Stanley Cup playoffs live updates: Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 1
The Battle of Florida is back.
The Florida Panthers vs the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's the fourth time in the past five years the in-state rivals are facing off in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Game 1 of the best-of-7 series begins at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tampa's Amalie Arena. It will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and locally on Scripps Sports.
Follow along throughout the game for live updates, news, analysis and commentary.
Will Matthew Tkachuk play?
The Panthers have remained coy about star winger Matthew Tkachuk's status for Game 1 as he recovers from an apparent groin injury that has sidelined him since mid-February. That extended all the way up to the team's morning skate on Tuesday, with coach Paul Maurice saying a decision won't be made until closer to puck drop even though Tkachuk was a full participant in both of the team's practices on Saturday and Monday as well as morning skate.
It's worth noting, though, that the team did formally activated him off injured reserve Tuesday afternoon, clearing the way for him to officially return to action for Game 1.
An update will come after warmups, but for now, here's the story from morning skate.
Series schedule
▪ Game 1: Tonight
▪ Game 2: 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, 7 p.m., ESPN, ESPN+, Scripps Sports, Panthers+, 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
Pregame reading
Need to catch up ahead of Game 1? Here are the highlights of the Miami Herald's coverage over the past week.
▪ Panthers embraced chance to rest but also 'a little antsy' to finally start playoffs
▪ After watching for two years, Mackie Samoskevich is ready to be part of a Panthers playoff run
▪ Five stats to know heading into the Panthers' playoff series against the Lightning
▪ 'He's a rat,' but Brad Marchand embraces that as his Panthers tenure enters playoffs
▪ Winning the Stanley Cup a moment Aleksander Barkov will 'never forget.' He wants to do it again
▪ Three reasons for — and three against — the Panthers' chances to repeat as Stanley Cup champions
▪ Three players who figure to be key to a long Florida Panthers playoff run
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