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Lightning Secure Home-Ice Advantage, Set for Playoff Clash with Panthers

Tampa Bay closes the regular season with a decisive win over Florida as both teams prepare for a heated first-round playoff series starting this weekend.

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with center Carter Verhaeghe (23) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
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Overview

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 in their regular-season home finale, solidifying their playoff momentum.
  • Nikita Kucherov reached a significant milestone, securing his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer with 120 points this season.
  • The Lightning clinched home-ice advantage for the first-round playoff series after the Panthers lost their final home game to the Rangers earlier this week.
  • Florida rested key players, including Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, in preparation for their Stanley Cup title defense, which begins against Tampa Bay.
  • This marks the fourth postseason meeting in five years between the in-state rivals, with both teams considered strong contenders for the Stanley Cup.