logo
Tampa Bay begins playoff run with showdown against Panthers

Tampa Bay begins playoff run with showdown against Panthers

Time of India22-04-2025
Image Source: Getty Images
The
Tampa Bay Lightning
are set to begin their 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff journey tonight. They are playing the
Florida Panthers
in Game 1 of the first round at 8:30 p.m. ET at AMALIE Arena in Tampa. Tonight, these two teams face off for the fourth time in five years in the playoffs. Both teams want to go on, and thus, this is going to be an interesting and close-knit series for fans to anticipate.
Tampa Bay Lightning against the Panthers in the opening playoff
The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay, these two teams have been dynasties for two years, and this has created some extremely intense playoff series. The Panthers swept the Lightning in last year's first round in five games, while the Lightning won the series each of the last two seasons. Such seesaw history only fed the rivalry between the two teams, with their playoff meetings now becoming all the more thrilling.
With the two sides mere hours apart by road distance, their competition is also heightened by geographic proximity and ardent fan bases. Both sides are eager to preserve their playoff chances, and so the stakes are high. The contest this season will again be a struggle for supremacy, as both sides long for victory.
Tampa Bay turns to Hedman and Kucherov for opening round edge
As the playoffs begin, the Lightning are entering the series with a strong team and high expectations. Tampa Bay is renowned for recent playoff victories and looks to keep going in the same fashion. Captain
Victor Hedman
was quoted as saying that he was ready to play in Game 1. The team has taken full advantage of the extra practice days to sharpen their game plan and improve their performance.
The Lightning also has one of the league's top creators in Nikita Kucherov.
Nikita Kucherov
, the point leader of the regular season, will be a great force in the playoffs. His offense-based goal-scorer ability and playmaker ability for the team to succeed are instrumental pieces of Tampa Bay's playoff plan.
Aside from their league-leading proven players, the Lightning will also bank on some new faces this season. Four of them, Gage Goncalves, Conor Geekie, Zemgus Girgensons, and JJ Moser, are making their Stanley Cup Playoffs debut. They bring depth and spice to the team, and that can be invaluable in these high-pressure games.
Also Read: Matthew Tkachuk's Return Boosts The Florida Panthers As Nikita Kucherov Faces The Mental Game Challenge
Get the latest
IPL 2025
updates on
Times of India
, including
match schedules
,
team squads
,
points table
and
IPL live score
for
CSK
,
MI
,
RCB
,
KKR
,
SRH
,
LSG
,
DC
,
GT
,
PBKS
, and
RR
. Don't miss the list of players in the race for
IPL Orange Cap
and
IPL Purple cap
.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The stars of Indian golf excited about upcoming league
The stars of Indian golf excited about upcoming league

The Hindu

time38 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

The stars of Indian golf excited about upcoming league

Three of the best golfers in the country who have shared rooms on the professional tour, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei and SSP Chawrasia, and pride about having more than 100 years of combined experience between them, were excited about the forthcoming Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL). In an interaction with the media, the three observed that golf in its new avatar, 'with no cut, decent prize money, fast-paced action', would attract the young talent to the game and help them grow into superstars. 'This league, combined with men, women, amateurs and juniors, will do what IPL has done for cricket. It will help promote the nextgen players,' said Shiv Kapur. Chawrasia felt that it would be a win-win situation both for the experienced players and the youngsters as both would learn from each other in dealing with the new format. Gaurav Ghei pointed out that Europe and USA had tried different formats over the years, but they were one-off events. 'To have a Tour, followed by the league in a short, concise format is exciting. It will engage youngsters and bring new viewership to the game,' said Ghei. The star professionals were unanimous that young fans did not have the patience to watch golf for long hours, and the quick format would provide the 'excitement for the fan.' Shiv was confident that Indian golf would look up once again and there was no reason why an Indian can't win a Major or be world No.1 in the times ahead. The professionals were equally unanimous that the team event would foster camaraderie and energise players to pull their weight for the team. The IGPL would also mean more opportunities for players to compete through the year. It would mean access to golf for more aspirants, giving the chance for players to represent teams and be seen on television. Shiv said that he was keen to be fully involved as a mentor and leader in building a franchise, the team, and experience the joy of sharing. 'The pressure while playing for a team is a lot different. When Karthik Singh plays Gaganjeet Bhullar, it will be a learning experience for both players,' said Gaurav.

Shreyanka Patil, Priya Mishra Ruled Out Of India A's Tour Of Australia
Shreyanka Patil, Priya Mishra Ruled Out Of India A's Tour Of Australia

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

Shreyanka Patil, Priya Mishra Ruled Out Of India A's Tour Of Australia

Shreyanka Patil and Priya Mishra are out of India A's Australia tour. Dhara Gujjar and Prema Rawat join the squad for T20s, ODIs, and a multi-day match. All-rounder Shreyanka Patil and spinner Priya Mishra have been ruled out of India A's upcoming tour of Australia. The selectors have added 22-year-old Dhara Gujjar and 23-year-old Prema Rawat across all three formats, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, to the one-day squad. Gujjar was earlier named in the one-day and multi-day squads, while Rawat was only part of the T20 squad. The team will play a multi-format series Down Under comprising three T20s, three 50-over matches, and a four-day red-ball fixture against Australia A. 'As mentioned in the earlier media release dated July 10, their participation was subject to fitness clearance," the BCCI said in a statement. 'Both players remain under the care of the BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence and are currently undergoing their Return-to-Play protocols." Shreyanka has been out of action since last year's Women's T20 World Cup in the UAE due to an ankle injury. She also missed out on IPL 2025 and was replaced by Sneh Rana in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's squad. India A's updated squads Schedule for India A tour of Australia 1st T20 – Thursday, 7 August 2025 – Mackay 2nd T20 – Saturday, 9 August 2025 – Mackay 3rd T20 – Sunday, 10 August 2025 – Mackay 1st One Day – Wednesday, 13 August 2025 – Norths 2nd One Day – Friday, 15 August 2025 – Norths 3rd One Day – Sunday, 17 August 2025 – Norths Multi-Day – Thursday, 21 August to Sunday, 24 August 2025 – Allan Border Field view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Stanley Cup travels from Florida to Canada, making stops to motivate fans along the way
Stanley Cup travels from Florida to Canada, making stops to motivate fans along the way

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Stanley Cup travels from Florida to Canada, making stops to motivate fans along the way

Stanley Cup (via Getty Images) The Stanley Cup is known for being many things—a symbol of victory, style, and emotions. It continues its classic championship parade following the Florida Panthers' record-breaking win and the current tour already has some touching moments. From Matthew Tkachuk's birthplace in St. Louis to Brian Riedel's Wisconsin origins, the Stanley Cup seems to be making emotional stops all over North America before returning to Canada with Jonah Gadjovich. Stanley Cup stops at children's hospitals, first responders, and local fans on North American tour Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk brought the legendary trophy to his hometown of St. Louis recently and made a special visit to St. Louis Children's Hospital. The NHL sensation spent time with sick kids, taking photos and allowing them to touch the aura of hockey's Holy Grail. Matthew Tkachuk didn't leave it at that. He also honored local responders and stopped at his hometown favorite, OB Clark's—a home for the St. Louis hockey community. These are personal touches that indicate how players, such as Matthew Tkachuk, are utilizing their time with the Stanley Cup to return the favor in some way. Matthew Tkachuk's 2nd Day with the Stanley Cup Brian Riedel takes the Stanley Cup back to Wisconsin The next stop on the Cup's cross-country tour was Wisconsin, where it arrived with Florida Panthers athletic trainer Brian Riedel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Riedel made an emotional stop at UW-Health's American Family Children's Hospital in Madison. 'I know some of these kids are going through some hard times, so just to put a smile on their face is all we want to do today and give them something to look at and admire and hopefully inspire them to be a Stanley Cup champion someday,' Brian Riedel told WMTV. Brian Riedel has played a key behind-the-scenes role in both of the Florida Panthers' championship runs. Before joining the NHL club, he was the head athletic trainer for the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate. Jonah Gadjovich to share Stanley Cup with hometown crowd in Whitby, Ontario Florida Panthers forward Jonah Gadjovich will be bringing the Cup home to his hometown of Whitby, Ontario, on Tuesday. Jonah Gadjovich also plans to hold a public session where he'll reunite with other alumni members of the Whitby Minor Hockey Association. Also read: Connor McDavid's next team already decided? Report suggests one Stanley Cup contender has the edge For the Florida Panthers and their fans, the legacy of this victory will endure not only in books about history but also in the hearts of people in communities throughout North America. FAQs When was the Stanley Cup trophy commissioned? 1892 Who was it named after? Lord Stanley of Preston What is so special about Stanley cups? It is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in professional sports. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store