Tampa Bay Lightning

Both teams scored goals 11 seconds apart in yet another chippy, physical game. Tampa Bay did it first to take a second-period lead, but Florida stunned the Bolts in the final four minutes to win Game 4.

Tampa Bay’s offense finally came alive, with goals from Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, Nick Paul, Luke Glendening and Anthony Cirelli. The Lightning will try to even things up in Game 4 on Monday at Sunrise.

The Lightning kept it close throughout, but Florida takes the home-ice advantage away from Tampa as their first-round NHL series head south to Sunrise for Games 3 and 4.

Tampa Bay loses Game 1 as Florida's Matthew Tkachuk nets two power-play goals in his first action after a two-month injury absence. Game 2 of the series is back at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

For five years, the Eastern Conference road to the Stanley Cup Final has meant Interstate 75. Florida is at Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the first round on Tuesday, with one of the rivals looking to keep that run going.

Tampa Bay opens the chase for the Stanley Cup against the defending champion and state rival Florida Panthers on Tuesday night at Amalie Arena.

Games 1 and 2 will be at Amalie Arena for this Sunshine State rematch. The Lightning also announced details on watch parties for road games, plaza viewing parties for home games and more fan experiences.

Drivers should be prepared for road closures and heavy traffic — particularly in Ybor City — on Saturday, March 29.

Yanni Gourde, part of Tampa's 2020 and 2021 title teams, and Oliver Bjorkstrand add valuable depth. But it was costly: Seattle gets first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a second-rounder this year and Mikey Eyssimont.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the hottest team in the NHL. They've won eight games in a row sandwiched around the 4 Nations Face-Off and last lost on Feb. 1. They have not been defeated in regulation since January.

The North American hockey rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026, Commissioner Gary Bettman cites the "exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state."