But this time there's a twist. In 2021 and 2022, the Lightning were the defending Stanley Cup champion; this time the Panthers are. Each time the two teams have faced each other, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

A Panthers win gives Florida a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, needing just one win over the final three games to advance to the second round. A Lightning win levels the series at two wins apiece before the series shifts back to Tampa.

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning meet Wednesday as they continue their Eastern Conference first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.