The Florida Panthers have seen enough of Carolina. Now it’s Tampa Bay's turn.
The Panthers visit the Lightning on Thursday at Benchmark International Arena for the first of two preseason meetings between the in-state rivals.
Florida enters the matchup 1-0-1 after splitting two games with the reigning Stanley Cup champions. The Cats opened with a 6-3 win in Sunrise before falling 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday in Raleigh.
The results may not count, but Florida’s top players already look ready.
Barkov and Tkachuk set the pace
Aleksander Barkov has scored in both preseason games after missing last season. On Tuesday, the Cats captain needed only 18 seconds to answer Carolina’s tying goal.
Then there is Brady Tkachuk.
The Panthers’ biggest offseason addition has made quite a first impression. Tkachuk recorded two goals, an assist, and a fight in his Florida debut. He scored again against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, bringing his total to three goals and five points in two games.
He has also brought exactly the kind of aggression Florida expected. When Barkov was hit into the boards in the preseason opener, Tkachuk immediately dropped the gloves.
Luckily, Tampa won’t get to experience that part of the new Panthers lineup just yet.
Tampa can breathe a little easier without Tkachuk
Tkachuk left Tuesday’s game after the second period after something “tightened up.”
Head coach Paul Maurice said "Chucky Jr." is day-to-day and should be ready for the regular-season opener. So yes, the Lightning can breathe easier Thursday.
But only a little.
Florida has plenty of other players motivated to make Tampa uncomfortable, especially with roster decisions approaching. The Panthers have played with speed and physicality, and their aggressive forecheck could provide an interesting test for a Lightning team still working through changes.
Missing a season may have unlocked a new level of Barkyness 😳 pic.twitter.com/BVVcFWLZRZ
— David Dwork (@DavidDwork) September 23, 2026
A different test for Tampa’s defense
The Lightning are also 1-0-1 in the preseason after two games against the Nashville Predators.
The Bolts won its opener 2-1 with many of its NHL veterans in the lineup. A much different group then blew a 2-0 third-period lead Tuesday and lost 3-2 in overtime.
But the Panthers aren’t the Predators.
Florida’s speed and pressure should test a Tampa Bay blue line adjusting to some significant changes.
Darren Raddysh is gone after a strong season in which he produced 70 points, including 22 goals and 10 power-play goals. Tampa Bay replaced him with veteran John Carlson, but his role - particularly on the power play - is still questionable. Carlson worked with the top unit in the opener, while Victor Hedman was not Jon Cooper’s primary option there. The power play moved the puck but lacked the dangerous shooting threat Raddysh provided when Nikita Kucherov found him from the other side.
That is something Tampa still needs to solve. And that is something the Cats may take advantage of.
Against an aggressive Panthers team, the Lightning may not get much time to figure it out.
The Battle of Florida is back
Florida-Tampa meetings rarely feel meaningless. The teams have built one of the NHL’s most recognizable in-state rivalries, and they will get two chances to renew it before the games start counting.
Barkov looks sharp. The Tkachuks have already made his presence felt. The Panthers are playing fast, boldly, and with plenty of competition throughout the lineup.
The Lightning may be relieved it doesn’t have to deal with Brady Tkachuk on Thursday. Unfortunately for the Bolts, they still have to deal with the Panthers.
After Thursday’s matchup in Tampa, the rivals meet again on Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise to close out the preseason.
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