Opinion
3 min read

Tampa Bay Lightning Clashes With Florida Panthers: A Battle for Supremacy at Amerant Bank Arena

As the Tampa Bay Lightning gear up to face the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena, fans are on the edge of their seats anticipating what promises to be an electrifying encounter. The Lightning, coming off a recent loss to the Panthers on April 21st with a close score of 2-3, are looking to turn the tables and assert their dominance.


Apr 21, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends his net against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

In that nail-biting game, despite putting up a valiant effort and landing 60 hits compared to the Panthers' 56, TB fell short. Their shooting accuracy was commendable with a shooting percentage of 10 percent from just 19 shots. However, it was not enough as they faced defeat by one goal difference in regular time. The powerplay unit managed to capitalize once out of two opportunities which is an area they will look to exploit again.


The upcoming game presents an opportunity for redemption for TB. Their performance against Toronto Maple Leafs on April 17th showcased their offensive prowess as they netted six goals from just 32 shots – an impressive shooting percentage of nearly double that against FLA – indicating that when they fire on all cylinders, they can be lethal.


Apr 21, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with center Sam Bennett (9) and center Carter Verhaeghe (23) after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

However, it's not just about offense; goaltending will play a crucial role too. In their last meeting with FLA, TB's goaltender saved all but three out of twenty-eight shots which translates into a save percentage rounding up to perfection. This defensive solidity combined with offensive firepower gives TB fans reason for optimism.


On the other side of the rink stands FLA who have shown resilience and skill in taking advantage of powerplays – scoring once in three opportunities last time around – and maintaining higher faceoff win percentages both overall (54 percent) and during powerplays (20 percent). They also boast takeaways tallying sixteen in their previous clash against TB which is something that could disrupt TB's flow if not addressed.


Apr 21, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) moves the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

The key takeaway for Tampa Bay Lightning is clear: maintain physicality while improving puck possession and capitalizing on scoring chances especially during powerplays where there’s room for improvement based on past performance data.


As we look ahead towards this clash between two titans of hockey on April 23rd at Amerant Bank Arena scheduled at 7:30 PM Eastern Time (ET), fans can catch every moment live across ESPN2, SN360 or TVAS networks. Will Tampa Bay Lightning strike back or will Florida Panthers hold firm? Only time will tell but one thing is certain - it’s going to be one heck of a game!

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