For the first 25 years of their existence, there was near-total indifference between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Neither team was good at the same time, and for much of their history, neither team was good at all, giving them little incentive to look in each other’s direction.
The Florida Panthers had just one run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996, and the Tampa Bay Lightning slowly found their footing after their first Stanley Cup in 2004, to become a consistent contender. Because it took time for the Panthers to catch up, the Lightning turned their attention to more competitive rivals.
The Boston Bruins were arguably their archrival. Many Tampa Bay fans also had their hatred for the New York teams because of the playoff beef. That all changed in the 2020s when the Lightning were winning back-to-back Stanley Cups as the Panthers officially joined the ranks of contenders.
During the 2020-21 regular season, tension started to build, but the true first shots of war weren’t fired until May 16, 2021, in Sunrise, the first time the two teams met in the playoffs, and the rivalry only grew from there.
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The war arguably didn’t reach its height until some key pieces arrived. Without Brandon Hagel on the Lightning and Matthew Tkachuk on the Panthers, this rivalry would be missing a spark. The blood wouldn’t boil to the same degree without players to hate.
Even after the Panthers have struggled this season, the rivalry is here to stay. On Thursday, tempers flared again, as players were ejected along with Panthers head coach Paul Maurice in the Lightning’s 6-1 blowout victory. The only thing at stake is who rules the state, but there’s an argument that this rivalry deserves more attention.
Panthers vs. Lightning Among the Game’s Best Rivalries
Like the rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche in the late 1990s, the Battle of Florida has earned its status. The path to the Stanley Cup runs through Florida. Not just on the Selmon Expressway through Tampa. Not just via the Sawgrass in Sunrise. But the state of Florida.
The past six Stanley Cup Finals have featured a Florida team. In four of those, the winner of the Battle of Florida has at least reached the Stanley Cup Final. Thrice, the winner has hoisted the Cup.
In a 32-team league, that is remarkable. Today, teams can’t ride their territorial rights to add talent as the Original Six teams did. There is no luxury of being guaranteed a spot in the Final, as the class of ’67 had for a few seasons. The playoffs aren’t six teams or twelve. They are two of 16 possible teams, not to mention salary cap constraints. All that’s to say, it’s harder than ever to be competitive, and the Florida teams continue to make their way to the Final.
What’s Holding the Lighting vs. Panthers Rivalry Back?
This rivalry still lacks national attention. Whether it’s that hockey is still growing in the United States or that Canadians continue to watch Canadian teams, there is more here to be appreciated. But recent events show there is a reluctance to promote this rivalry.
There could have been a 2026 Outdoor Game that featured the Battle of Florida. With two games in Florida this winter, one in Miami at LoanDepot Park and the other in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium, the NHL could have featured at least one epic battle between the two clubs. Instead, the Panthers hosted the New York Rangers, and the Lightning hosted the Boston Bruins.
For the Lightning, fine. The Bruins are a top rival and still a welcome opponent. However, it’s debatable whether the Rangers and Panthers are really rivals, or if this match was intended to increase TV ratings. If we’re being honest, adding Boston into the mix was also a safeguard.
While there were varying degrees of success to these games this year, fans wanted something else. Lightning and Panthers fans want their teams to play each other. They wanted a true Florida showcase. It’s hard to prove that hockey belongs in the South when the North doesn’t get to see the games.
There is something here. The NHL just needs to be willing to promote it to the masses. You never know. Perhaps, there is a chance to grow the game further. There was a time when baseball and football had to win over America. Even soccer is starting to do it. Why not push for hockey to sweep the USA as well?
