Don’t let anyone in the Lightning organization tell you otherwise: Playing the Florida Panthers is not just another hockey game.
The animosity between the teams runs deep and seems to intensify every time they meet, whether it’s in the playoffs or the preseason. They truly don’t like each other.
Some Lightning and Panthers players were teammates for last season’s 4 Nations Faceoff and will be again in February’s Winter Olympics. But their teams’ disdain for each other is real.
For all that, Lightning-Panthers might be the best rivalry in the NHL.
“Players have memories too, right?“ Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters Friday. ”So they know who we’re playing and especially when we’ve recently played each other in a playoffs. So, coaches don‘t need to do much for this one.”
Everyone has had Nov. 15 marked on their calendars since the last time the teams met — the penalty-riddled, fight-filled preseason finale Oct. 4 in Sunrise that ended with 16 ejections, 65 penalties and 322 penalty minutes between the teams.
Now, the cross-state rivals will meet for the first time in the regular season Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.
“There’s definitely a fine line between what you want to do and how you want to play,” said Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons. “But I mean, definitely anytime we’ve played against them it gets a little rowdy. I don’t mind it. I think it’s fun, but I haven’t really thought about it that much.”
Girgensons was knocked out of that final preseason game by a head-first check into the boards from Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. Girgensons missed the first seven games of the season. Verhaeghe was ejected but received no supplemental discipline.
There’s certainly a lot of frustration that lies with the Lightning when it comes to the defending back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. Part of it is that Florida currently holds bragging rights after eliminating Tampa Bay in each of the past two postseasons.
And while the Panthers’ physical brand of play toes the line — there was no better example of the physical back-and-fourth between the teams than last season’s first-round playoff series — the Lightning felt that the way game officials and later the league regulated the play was lopsided.
That notion was revived in the second-to-last preseason game, when Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel was cross-checked, hit with a high stick and then sucker-punched by Panthers forward A.J. Greer, knocking him out of the game. Greer was fined but received no further supplemental discipline.
Rather than leaving their other star players susceptible to injury in a meaningless game two nights later, the Lightning called up six players from AHL Syracuse. It was clear from the start they were going to take their pound of flesh if the league, in their eyes, wasn’t going to do their part to punish the Panthers.
The events of those final two preseason games made the Lightning reevaluate some things. They claimed imposing forward Curtis Douglas, a 6-foot-9 enforcer, off waivers on Oct. 6. From the moment he was acquired, it was clear that it was for games like Saturday’s that he was added.
“I’ve seen them on TV,” Douglas said of the Lightning-Panthers games. “ And, I mean, I’m excited. It should be really fun. It’s my brand of hockey. I wasn’t there for the last game, but I’m here now, so we’ll what happens.”
There’s no reason to think anything will change Saturday. The Lightning are banged up, and with the volatile nature of this series they’ll have to make calls on whether to put important players who might not be fully healthy into the physical kind of game it promises to be.
It’s a rivalry game. The Panthers stand in the Lightning’s way and could again when it matters most in the postseason. But this is not that time. While two points are important with both teams sitting outside a playoff spot, it’s still only one game in mid-November.
The Lightning were without seven regulars for Wednesday’s loss to the Rangers.
Center Nick Paul is on long-term injured reserve. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh and rookie center Dominic James were placed on IR after getting injured last Saturday against the Capitals. Hagel took another hit to the head just three shifts into Wednesday’s game and didn’t return.
Forward Pontus Holmberg didn‘t play Wednesday or practice Friday. Defenseman Victor Hedman and center Anthony Cirelli did practice Friday, but Cooper said it shouldn’t be assumed they’ll play against the Panthers.
”We’re a little bit of a MASH unit right now,” the coach said. “Even the guys that practiced (Friday), some of those guys aren’t going to be in, either, so we’ll have to get a wake up (Saturday) and see where we’re at.”
Las Vegas, NV – In a bold move that underscores his commitment to elevating the entertainment scene in Las Vegas, Mark Davis, owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, has confirmed that he will personally invest $6 million to bring the iconic WWE event, WrestleMania 42, to the entertainment capital of the world.
The announcement, which sent shockwaves through both the sports and entertainment industries, reveals Davis’ ongoing efforts to expand the city’s already legendary status as a premier host for major events. With the success of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders in the city and the growing appeal of Las Vegas as a global destination, hosting a marquee event like WrestleMania was seen as a natural next step.
“WrestleMania is more than just a wrestling event. It’s a celebration of sports entertainment, and it’s the kind of spectacle that fits perfectly with what we are building here in Las Vegas,” Davis said in a statement. “We’re committed to making sure that Las Vegas is at the center of major cultural events, and bringing WrestleMania to town is just the beginning.”
The $6 million investment will go toward securing the rights to host WrestleMania 42, as well as covering the operational and logistical costs of staging the massive event, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans from around the world. The event will be held at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders, marking another significant chapter in the stadium’s history as a key venue for major events across various sports and entertainment sectors.
WrestleMania, WWE’s flagship event, is known for its larger-than-life matches, high-energy performances, and celebrity involvement, drawing a massive global audience every year. With Las Vegas already being a hub for entertainment and tourism, it’s expected that WrestleMania 42 will have a major economic impact, bringing in visitors, tourists, and wrestling fans from all corners of the globe.
“This is a huge win for Las Vegas,” said a city official, praising Davis for his vision and leadership. “Not only does this put our city on the global stage again, but it also opens the door for future high-profile events. Mark Davis is continuing to demonstrate his commitment to making Las Vegas the epicenter of world-class entertainment.”
As the countdown to WrestleMania 42 begins, excitement continues to build around the event’s potential to further solidify Las Vegas as a premier sports and entertainment destination. Fans of WWE and the Raiders alike are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of sports, entertainment, and spectacle in the heart of Sin City.