When will Panthers-Lightning playoff series start? NHL announces dates, times and TV info
The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are facing off in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
And their best-of-7 first-round matchup is set to begin on Tuesday.
The NHL on Thursday announced the game dates and start times for all eight first-round matchups after the full field became final.
Puck drop for Game 1 of the Panthers-Lightning matchup is at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay will host Games 1, 2, 5 (if necessary) and 7 (if necessary) as the higher seed. Florida will host Games 2, 4 and 6 (if necessary).
In addition to the national broadcasts, all first-round Panthers games will also air locally on Scripps Sports and can be streamed on Panthers+.
The full schedule is below:
▪ Game 1: Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN, Scripps Sports, Tampa’s Amalie Arena
▪ Game 2 (Tampa’s Amalie Arena): Thursday, 6:30 p.m., TBS, truTV, Max, Scripps Sports, Tampa’s Amalie Arena
▪ Game 3: Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m., TBS, truTV, Max, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena
▪ Game 4: Monday, April 28, time and TV TBD, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena
▪ Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, April 30, time and TV TBD, Tampa’s Amalie Arena
▪ Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, May 2, time and TV TBD, Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena
▪ Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday, May 4, time and TV TBD, Tampa’s Amalie Arena
The Panthers beat the Lightning in five games to open the playoffs last year on their way to winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Before that, Tampa Bay won the only other postseason matchups between the in-state rivals, winning in six games in the first round of the 2021 playoffs and sweeping the Panthers in Round 2 of the 2022 playoffs.
This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM.
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