Scouting Report (Courtesy of the AP)
The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers have a natural rivalry as cross-state siblings in the NHL, but that can move to another level if the two franchises meet in the playoffs this season.
Right now, it’s close to lining up as the teams prepare for their fourth and final meeting of the regular season. Tampa Bay (45-17-4) entered Monday’s games with the best record in the league, just ahead of Nashville by a point. Surging Florida (32-25-6) has pushed themselves into the playoff picture.
Florida has won six straight -- all at home -- and is 13-3 in their last 16 games, pulling within a point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with three fewer games played than Columbus, just ahead in the points standings.