If you’re looking to spread some Christmas cheer, this may be the game for you.
The "Battle of Florida" begins with the first of a back-to-back, at Amalie Arena on Sunday night. There’s never a lot of love lost between these guys, but there is a certain level of respect.
The Lightning have played solid hockey in the past couple of months, and are currently on a four-game win streak. They’re 11-4-1 since mid-November and a once struggling power play, has now started to find it's rhythm. Overall the Lightning are a more complete team than they were at this point last season. With an overall goal differential of (plus 34), they’re starting to string together some wins.
Hoisting the Stanley Cup usually comes with a price, and the Lightning know that better than anyone. That said, the Panthers haven’t lost their step this season. Florida has won three straight and are 9-2-1 since Thanksgiving week. They're currently sitting in second place in the Atlantic division behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Together, the Lightning and Panthers have combined to bring Lord Stanley home three times in the past five seasons, two of those coming from the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. You could safely say the cup runs through the state of Florida.
Expect a physical, Sunday night matchup between two of the best teams in the league.
Here's a look at the Lightning practice lines from Saturday..
Forwards
Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Conor Geekie
Gage Goncalves - Nick Paul - Mitchell Chaffee
Zemgus Girgensons - Luke Glendening - Mikey Eyssimont
Defensemen
Victor Hedman - Darren Raddysh
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg - Nick Perbix
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy