Lightning, Panthers battle for Florida supremacy
TAMPA -- The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are both off to 2-0-0 starts to their respective seasons, and the two teams that finished 1-2 in the Atlantic Division in 2015-16 square off for the first time in the new campaign Tuesday night at Amalie Arena.
"It should be a pretty good clash," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper, whose team lost four of five games to their in-state rivals last season. "They're a really good team. They won our division last year. They're strong on defense. They're strong down the middle. ... They've had a year to win together, so they're that much more confident in what they're doing."
Florida had the better regular season last year, resetting franchise records for wins (47) and points (103), but it was the Lightning who stuck around longer in the playoffs. The Panthers lost in the opening round 4-2 to the Islanders, with three overtime losses, while Tampa Bay needed only five games to eliminate the Islanders in the next round before ultimately losing to Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference finals.
"We have a big test tomorrow night in Tampa. It should be fun," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. "It's going to be a battle. ... Our game plan hasn't changed. If you execute well, you're going to have good opportunities. I like the way we have played in these first two games for sure."
Among Florida's impact newcomers is center Jonathan Marchessault, who had just seven goals in 45 games last year with the Lightning but has stepped up with goals in his first two games with the Panthers.
Tampa Bay has had to rally back from two-goal deficits in each of its first two wins, with the power play a major part of their opening win against Detroit. The Lightning own three power-play goals in nine opportunities so far, while Florida has yet to score in five tries with the man advantage.
Tampa Bay won Saturday against New Jersey with backup Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, showing a commitment to a more even split between him and Ben Bishop. The Lightning will likely benefit from facing a backup Tuesday, as Florida is expected to give Roberto Luongo (2-0, 0.98 GAA) the night off, allowing James Reimer, 28, to make his Panthers debut.
Reimer is 91-78 for his career with a 2.79 GAA, having played most of his career in Toronto before finishing last season with San Jose.
Florida dominated the regular-season series last year, so Tampa Bay is hoping to fare better this time around. The in-state rivals only play four times in 2016-17, with games at the Panthers on Nov. 7 and Jan. 26 before the season series wraps up in Tampa on March 11.
Both teams get the benefit of early home games, as the Lightning wrap up a four-game homestand to open the season with Colorado on Thursday, while this game is the Panthers' lone road contest in their first five, returning home to face Washington on Thursday and Colorado on Saturday.
