TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The journey to the Stanley Cup finals starts Tuesday night for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Game one of their opening playoff series is against the Florida Panthers. The Bolts are looking for payback after the Panthers knocked them out last season.
This is the 8th consecutive playoff berth for the Bolts. It’s the 4th time in five seasons the team is facing the Panthers in the playoffs.
Coach Jon Cooper said his team has their work cut out for them.
“They have a potent group of really, really good players that now have winning, it’s part of their pedigree,” Cooper said. “Once you get here, it’s a big-time challenge, I don’t care what anybody says.”
The Lightning have home ice advantage for the playoff opener. Whichever team takes the most wins in the seven-game series advances to the next round.
Ice Manager Patrick Jesso said the rink at Amalie Arena is ready.
“We’re here for 16 hours a day, almost every day, for the last two weeks just to prep, since the last home game until now. We’re doing a lot of work just to get ready for a win,” he said.
According to Chief Marketing Officer Matt Corey, fan energy is the final piece of a successful playoff start.
“It’s do or die. The last couple years we’ve been out after the first round, so we need fans to bring it,” Corey said.