Panthers Hit The Road To Begin Title Defense Against Lightning

The Florida Panthers begin their Stanley Cup title defense Tuesday night in familiar territory - on the road against a familiar foe.

The defending champions open their Eastern Conference first-round series at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, marking the fourth time in five years the Panthers and Lightning have met in the postseason.

The rivalry has intensified with each passing year, but it's Florida that appears to have seized the upper hand.

After reaching the Stanley Cup Final and defeating Tampa Bay en route to their first-ever championship last season, the Panthers are now aiming to match the Lightning's stretch of three consecutive Eastern Conference titles from 2020 to 2022.

A team from Florida has appeared in the Stanley Cup Final each of the last five seasons, and the state's grip on the NHL's Eastern Conference hasn't let up.