This is the fourth time in five postseasons we've seen the Sunshine State battle, and now payback time for the Lightning after out in five vs. Florida in an ill-tempered opening round last April. Note TB goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, who once set the standard in the nets for the playoffs, had a stellar regular season with a 2.20 GAA and .921 saves, while the Lightning also had a top ten penalty kill (80.3%). Nikita Kucherov was the league's top scorer (121 points), too.. This doesn't have the same feel for Florida as last season, as the Panthers labored down the stretch, winning only three of their last ten, and Matthew Tkachuk's status is a game-time decision for Paul Maurice tonight. Play Lightning on Money Line

Not only don't I think the Panthers repeat, I don't believe they get past their bitter in-state rivals in Round 1. Matthew Tkachuk may or may not return from a long injury absence on Tuesday, but even if he does what can really be expected considering he has missed two-plus months? And top blueliner Aaron Ekblad is suspended the first two games. Tampa Bay had second most home wins in the Eastern Conference (29). Future Hall of Famer Andrei Vasilevskiy had one of his top seasons with a career-best 2.18 goals-against average, while his .921 save percentage ranked fourth in the NHL.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been knocked out of the first round of the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. Last year, the Florida Panthers eliminated Tampa Bay in five games. Tampa Bay lost the first two games by one goal at Florida last season. With Tampa Bay at home, they will be able to match up last, which should propel them to a game-one win.