Panthers vs. Lightning: The Battle of Florida Heats Up

When Do the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning Play Next?

Upcoming game information can be found below. Florida Panthers tickets and Tampa Bay Lightning tickets can be found on their respective team pages.

Are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning Rivals?

Yes, the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning are regional and divisional rivals in the NHL. Both teams are members of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference and have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times, in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Who Are the Florida Panthers’ Biggest Rivals?

The Florida Panthers’ biggest rivals are the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, plus the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.

Who are the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Biggest Rivals?

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s biggest rivals are the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division as well as the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.

Game Results Between the Panthers and Lightning

Of the NHL’s 82 regular season games, fans can expect four matchups between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning each year. In 157 meetings, the Panthers hold a 77-51-10-19 edge over the Lightning.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Series History

The Florida Panthers-Tampa Bay Lightning rivalry, known as the “Battle of Florida,” is foundational to both franchises. Entering the NHL as the Sunshine State’s only hockey clubs only one year apart, in 1992 for the Lightning and 1993 for the Panthers, the two teams’ legacies were linked from the start. In the Panthers’ first faceoff at the Lightning’s home ice at ThunderDome, now know as Tropicana Field, fans set an NHL record for the highest-attended regular season game at 27,227. The Panthers also claimed their first victory, 2-0.

Over the years, the Battle of Florida has included tense regular season competition, fueled by their dual membership in the Atlantic Division from 1993 to 1998, the Southeast Division from 1998 to 2013 and the realigned Atlantic Division ever since. Both teams have traded Atlantic Division titles, including Florida’s three, in 2016, 2022 and 2023, along with Tampa’s two, in 2018 and 2019. Occasionally, the teams have exchanged a trophy for the regular season series winner, titled either the Sunshine Cup, Nextel Cup or Governor’s Cup — though the tradition ended in 2014.

In the past decade, the Lightning vs. Panthers rivalry reached a new peak, as both teams ascended to the top of the league. After Tampa Bay won their second Stanley Cup title in 2020, the reigning champs took on Florida for the first-ever postseason Battle of Florida. The teams met in the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Lightning advanced, 4-2, to eventually raise the league trophy for a second consecutive season and third time overall. In 2022, the Lightning swept the Panthers in the second round of the postseason, though Florida earned its revenge in the first round of the 2024 playoffs by defeating Tampa, 4-1, on their way to claiming the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Where Do the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers Play?

The Tampa Bay Lightning compete at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. Opened in 1996 and following renovations completed in 2013, the multipurpose arena currently holds a maximum capacity of 19,092 fans for hockey games. Throughout the years, Amalie Arena has hosted the NHL All-Star Game, in 1999 and 2018, and the NCAA Men’s Hockey Frozen Four in 2012, 2016 and 2023. Among the Lightning’s five Stanley Cup Finals appearances, Amalie Arena has held home games in 2004, 2015, 2021 and 2022.

The Florida Panthers host home games at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Located within the Miami metropolitan area, the South Florida venue opened in 1998. With 19,250 seats in its hockey configuration and a maximum capacity of 22,457, Amerant Bank Arena stands as the largest indoor arena in Florida. The Panthers played their first Stanley Cup Finals games at Amerant Bank Arena during back-to-back appearances in 2023 and 2024, including their title-clinching win on home ice in the latter season. Meanwhile, the venue hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 2003 and 2023.