SUNRISE (CBSMiami/CNN) – The defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the upstart Florida Panthers are about to meet in the postseason for the first time.
Game 1 of their Central Division opening-round series is Sunday night on the Panthers’ home ice in Sunrise.
READ MORE:
Florida was second in the Central Division, Tampa Bay third.
“I think we made giant strides over the course of the year, from this year to last year,” Panthers coach Joel Quenneville said. “But it doesn’t matter. It’s what we do now going forward.”
The Panthers went 5-2-1 against the Lightning in the regular season, though that seems mostly irrelevant now given that Tampa Bay’s lineup will be considerably different in this series.