Opinion
3 min read

Tampa Bay Lightning's Resurgence to Test Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena

As the Tampa Bay Lightning gear up for their next face-off against the Florida Panthers, fans are eager to see if they can carry forward the momentum from their recent victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The upcoming game, scheduled at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, promises to be a riveting encounter between these two formidable teams.


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

The Lightning's performance against the Maple Leafs on April 17 was nothing short of spectacular. They dominated with a 19 percent shooting accuracy and showcased an impressive power play, converting one out of four opportunities. Their goaltender played a pivotal role in securing the win with an outstanding save percentage of 100 percent, fending off all but four of the 38 shots faced.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for TB in their last outing against FLA on April 21. Despite landing more hits and blocking more shots than their adversaries, they fell short by one point in a closely contested match that ended with a scoreline favoring FLA by three points to two. The Lightning's power play was effective once again during this game as they scored one goal from just two opportunities—a success rate that should not be overlooked going into their next game.


Apr 21, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) shoots the puck against the Florida Panthers 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

FLA has proven themselves as tough opponents; they've been particularly strong when playing even strength and have capitalized on power plays better than TB did in their previous encounter. With an overall shooting accuracy of 11 percent and winning goals under their belt, FLA will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge for TB.


Looking ahead to April 29th’s clash at Amerant Bank Arena, Tampa Bay Lightning must focus on maintaining discipline while exploiting any weaknesses in Florida Panthers' armor—especially during power plays where TB has shown efficiency recently. It will also be crucial for them to improve faceoff win percentages which stood at only 46 percent during their last meeting with FLA.


Apr 21, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) looks on 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

The key takeaway is clear: if Tampa Bay Lightning can leverage its strengths—particularly its potent power play—and tighten up defensively around faceoffs and even-strength situations—they stand a good chance of turning tables on home ice against Florida Panthers.


Fans won’t want to miss this exciting matchup between these Atlantic Division rivals set for April 29th at Amerant Bank Arena. The puck drops at 1:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), and those who cannot attend can catch all the action live where it’s broadcasted.

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