The Battle of Florida is back for the third time in four seasons. Is this the year Florida eliminates the Bolts?
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @thehockeyguy
Join us on our discord to chat hockey, talk with others during the game, share pet pictures, and more.
/ discord
Order jerseys from Ben H Sports while saving 10% off the listed eBay prices by sending him an email regarding jerseys you spot in his listings. ben.hoogenband@yahoo.ca Just tell him Shannon sent you.
Support The Hockey Guy via Patreon / thehockeyguy
/ youtubehockeyguy
Instagram: thgshannon and thg_cats
Spoutible: spoutible.com/TheHockeyGuy
TheHockeyGuy.yt@gmail.com
Contact me via snail mail at:
The Hockey Guy
PO Box 15038 Seven Oaks PO
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 8P1
In the USA:
Shannon Skanes
1125 Fir Avenue
Suite 119
Blaine, WA 98230
Of all the first round series, this might be the most fun. Both are chippy, have good special teams, and of course are cross-state rivals.
Agree, and the 2nd best series is Bruins v Maple Leafs imo. You know the Leafs are dying to beat Boston. Once again the Atlantic is just brutal
It's potentially going to be dirty af, the 9-2 game during the season series had like a dozen misconduct penalties and the previous playoff series have been intense as well, doesn't matter what the score was
Hardcore fans of each team hate each other. Panthers fans hate lightning fans. Your either a Panthers fan or a Lightning fan. You can’t be both .
Without a doubt, I can guarantee that the team from Florida is going to win.
Whoa, I think you just might be right lol
Battle of Florida right off the bat, awesome.
Definitely nervous about this one but if we ever want to win a cup we have to slay our dragon first
Only way 🙏🏾
Same, always the most exciting matchup though! It's redemption time!
Let’s slay our dragon. For South Florida!
Coming from a tampa fan, I always get super heated watching my bolts play y’all’s cats and can get super up in arms, but at the end of the day I usually end up liking the panthers as representatives of florida hockey from across the way. I can’t wait. If the bolts don’t win the cup I’ll likely find myself rooting for y’all. Best of luck guys!
@@JohnMcLoughlin06 I usually end up rooting for other florida teams when mine are out, best of luck!
Tampa is a 3 time cup champion. Go bolts ⚡️
As a Panther fan, this is the one opponent who worries me the most. Tampa is a different animal in the playoffs. It will come down to special teams and goaltending. If we stay out of the box, we win, but we will likely go 6, possibly 7 games. This will be no cakewalk.
We won't stay out of the box. And that is a problem. I wonder if Maurice might say something to the boys like "You know if we didn't have to spend so much time in the box, we would have more time to score goals. Hint, hint".
Kooch is going to destroy you, folks.
Hence why Boston dropped their last two games to play Toronto. Florida is screwed. I am predicting Tampa to win the East. Tampa in 6
@PeterCPRail8748 You might be right, sir! But I hope you're wrong!! If Florida is ever going to win the cup, they have to slay this dragon. Should be a good series either way.
Either way, it’ll be fun series! May the best team win!
This honestly feels like it could've been an ECF matchup, crazy that one of these teams is out in the first round
We say this every year with multiple different matchups. Need to go back to a 1-8
@@hedgehotdogactually if the playoffs had the 1-8 format this yr then all the matchups in the east would be the exact same
@@dabutla4917 ong bro these complainers arent the brightest
@@hedgehotdog In the current system, I believe 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, so that's 50% which are always exactly the same regardless. The only potential differences are seeds 3 through 6. But I may be wrong.
@@dabutla4917my biggest complaint about the current format is the repeat matchups, which has been a thing since they started it
This is going to be the best game series in playoffs hands down
Exactly. Great hockey and scrums. What else can we wish for 🙂
@@kfjdsoihf8452beside the fact this kinda matchup should be in conference final, not in round 1😂
This could be my Lightning fan bias, but having the first game as a noon game is criminal. One of the most exciting matchups in the first round this year
As a neutral viewer I don't mind it but if the Leafs had a game at that time I'd be so cheesed so ik what you mean.
As a Panther fan, i agree its bullshit
Saw a "weird" stat (don't know if it's real), that when Forsling and Barkov were on the ice together this season, Florida allowed 9 (NINE!) 5v5 goals.
Yes it’s real
Barkov should be a unanimous Selke...Are there any other teams that regularly put out three forwards in OT?
@@flarrfan Atlanta thrashers did.
@paolorossi8470 they weren't around for the 3 vs 3 format were they?
@@darrenlambert3448 They are still around playing in a parallel league.
Forsling is the leauge leader in +/- with +56. The most hated stat!
Hopefully the travel schedule isn't to hard on these teams.
I don't know the geography of Florida that well. A plane ride or bus ride?
@@arlenstrauch They go on tandem bikes
@mysticsaxophone4181 that would work well for the defense, but the forwards, someone will have to ride alone.😂
This may be the panthers best shot of finally winning the battle of florida. I want to say cats in 6 but i wouldn't be surprised if either team wins in 6 or 7.
Florida vs Tampa and Boston vs Toronto is good for hockey all around.
No player has more points in the postseason than Kucherov since he debuted in the NHL in 2013-14; his 160 points (53 goals, 107 assists) in 142 games are 56 more than Hedman, who ranks second.
the best game of hockey i've ever watched in my life is game 1 between the Lightning and Panthers in 2021. happy that we get to see the battle of florida again and this one could be a barn burner with tampa still being a very strong team (especially if Vasi finds that playoff form again) that knows how to win in the playoffs and maybe has that drive to get one more cup with this group, while florida is just outright one of the best teams in the NHL. and honestly i'm taking tampa to win this one in 7. i know it's a bold take but i see this one as more of a toss up than most people probably do. it'll be a war and i think the bolts are the ones to survive it
Agreed, that was the best game I’ve ever watched
Lightning have 3 Cups
Both teams are stacked. It's an "all star game" Kucherov actually wants to take part in.
Animal vs Mother Nature
I can't wait for this series to get started.
Jesus, this is the matchup?? Gonna be a bloodbath o_O
My heart says Tampa in 7. My head says Florida in 5.
I think Florida takes this in 5. They have more depth upfront and on the blue line, and Vasilevskiy had a lot of struggles this year. I think most of the games will be close, but I think Florida is better than the previous two times they played Tampa Bay in the playoffs.
Tampa just knows how to win the playoffs, last year was rough with injuries and fatigue.
Hoping for a long series. Remember Bob had a ”bad” season last season and stood on his head in the playoffs. Regular season doesn’t have to mean anything in the playoffs.
@GWh135 I do agree. I just think Florida has learned from those two losses, and I think they have more than Tampa Bay has.
Really TB has 3 40 goal scorers 7 20 goal scorers Florida 1 40 goal scorer 5 20 goal scorers , but yeah Florida is much deeper Bhahahahahahaha 🙄
@@danmac9336 every season is unique
GO BOLTS BRING IT ON KITTY CATS DONT LIKE THE RAIN AND THEY DEFINITELY DONT LIKE THE LIGHTNING JUST REMEMBER THIS VASY WASNT HEALTHY THE WHOLE SEASON AND WE BATTLED THROUGH INJURIES AND WE STILL MADE THE PLAYOFFS AND DAMM NEAR TOOK THIRD PLACE GO BOLTS ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Tanner Jeannot has to step up big time for TB
Tampa Bay wins cup(unstoppable offense)….Pens fan
As a Ranger fan, I think Florida is the team to beat in the East. They've gotten back in form before the end of the season after looking really mediocre for a few weeks. It will be Florida in the ECF and a toss up between the Rangers and Canes as their opponent.
NYR will choke out in round one
Then Vegas takes the cup again.
@@rickhammond2473Vegas will be out in the first round 🤣🤣
Lots of people are taking the Panthers here, but i just cant count out playoff Vasi
I think its kinda neat that Reinhart has 57 goals and Barkov has 57 assists.
Looking forward to this series!
I think there is a very forced narrative around the NHL regarding the decline of the Lightning. Thye had a rough start with Vassy on the bench and retooling their bottom 6 and bottom 3 on the fly but adding Duclair has been a magicians move by JBB, Hagel is a freaking stud and Nick Paul is in full playoff Apostle mode already. And the young kids like Chaffee and Lilleberg have really solidified the depth of the team. Vassy has looked very much like his normal self and the vets on the team are healthier than they have in probably five seasons. I recognize the Miami Panthers as being a great team. It actually pisses me off that Boston fucked it all up and we get this as a first-round matchup.
The way Boston hot-dogged their way through the last few games really made it look like they preferred a matchup with Toronto. I would have a hard time convincing myself that it wasn't intentional.
The biggest thing Tampa Bay has to do to beat Florida is not to get suckered into taking retaliatory penalties because of the actions of players like Tkachuk, Lomberg, and (especially) Cousins. It is my opinion (and many others as well) that the Panthers are currently the dirtiest team in the NHL and a lot of potential penalty calls against them seem to get missed by the officials, yet their opponents don't get the same benefit of doubt.
@@blackenedmagic888 If the Lightning win the series, special teams and goaltending will be the reason why. The Panthers are easily a top 3 team at 5v5, if not the best outright. The same is also true for TB's PP/PK, and we know how high Vasi's ceiling is. I'm hoping for a great series. I maintain my prediction that the winner of this series will represent the eastern conference.
@@blackenedmagic888 yeah, I really don't get Dangle predicting a line brawl and all the physicality. I think he is just sensationalizing it for reaction because that is not Jon Cooper playoff hockey. Sure Coop might dress Watson early and have a guy ready to respond but I think that with guys like Eyssimont, Hagel and Paul, the Panthers are gonna be the ones having their cool tested. It's not like it was a decade ago. The refs don't swallow the whistle in the second season as much as they used to and Coop knows the biggest advantage they have over every team is the power play. I still think the Panthers have something to prove to themselves which lets Tampa live rent free in their heads.
@@StacheTB I can see a lot of physical play in this series and I know Tampa Bay can more than hold their own. But, as I said, they can not let Florida's players get under their skins with their propensity to take little cheap shots at heir opponents after the whistle has blown. With your original comment, Tampa Bay might not be as deep as they once were, but they are still a pretty potent team and can't be taken lightly. As for Dangle... I'm a long-time die-hard Maple Leafs fan and, quite frankly, I have very little tolerance for the guy. He's a little bit too over-the-top for my tastes at times.
This is gonna be fun. The panthers have upgraded since their last meeting. I think tampa isn’t as good but they are still very dangerous. Vasilevskiy has found his game(.918) sv since march and with their high end talent they are always in the mix. As a lightning fan i feel this is Florida’s time. They have been itching for this re match. I do think this is the series of round 1 and the winner goes on a deep run. Panthers in 6 with all this being said
I may be wrong, but in recent years any champion had a .93+ goalie in the playoff. And .918 is a bad game for vasi, usually he is one head higher
@@alexkorneev6469 believe it or not .918 was a top 5 save percentage post the trade deadline. Sv was in the tubes this year
Don’t sleep on the lightning core group they can rally the whole team up!
I've been nervous about playing the Lightning in the playoffs all year, it just felt like it was inevitable. We've been tormented by our big brother long enough, that series sweep in 2022 still haunts me. I just wanna beat them, not just for the sake of making another deep run, but I also don't want this to become an increasingly bitter, lopsided, and predictable postseason rivalry. Let this become a more fun, relevant, and unpredictable rivalry to show the rest of the hockey world that the sport indeed does belong in the state of Florida.
this is a tough one im gonna go with tampa in 7
Flew from Seattle to go to the first three of these as a Florida fan. One game in, LOVING IT!
I have the panthers winning the cup this year. Which means congratulations to Tampa on your 4th cup.
I actually prefer this match up because I love the Sunshine Showdown, I also cheer for the Panthers when the bolts are eliminated as they have plenty of players I enjoy, so I hope the Bolts pull through but if they don't I will happily cheer for the other Florida team.
I've been a Lightning fan ever since my first in-person hockey game 30 years ago in the Thunderdome. I'm proud we have three Cups, but after the third I got ESPN+ and have spent most of my TV time since then watching the Panthers in their P Trophy season, then their Finals season, and now this year, when their defensive play has been a wonder to watch. So I'm happy either way and looking forward to cheering on a team from Florida in Round 2!
Let's Go Lightning!!!
Tampa in 5 Duclair hat trick in every game
Best matchup for Tampa
I believe FLA will get out of this one alive this time.... but boy could I be wrong.... TPB has three 40+ goal scorers in regular season... and a killer powerplay unit... This is what would bring FLA down... FLA has 1116 total PIM vs. 901 for TPB FLA is 2nd most punished team with 415 penalties taken / 291 times shorthanded vs 330 penalties taken and 234 times shorthanded for TPB. Also, top PIM players : FLA - Gadjovich with 104 in 39GP vs. TPB - Eyssimont with 104, but in 81 GP... FLA has 2 players with 100+ PIM and 4 with 80+ and Tkachuk is one of them; TPB only has 2 with 90+ (the other one being Watson...) However, FLA has 8 SHG (Reinhart has 5 SHG) vs. TPB at 5 total for the year. TPB has more even strength goals (172) than FLA (156), but FLA has 120 even strength goals against vs. 190 for TPB, Showing how Vasilevskiy is really struggling this year... TPB has more total player points than FLA... both have equal special teams goals (PPG + SHG combined) It'll be a VERY interesting series for sure !! Keys of success: FLA: STAY OUT THE BOX ! (Talking to you Tkachuk...) TPB: Vasilevskiy, play like the Vasilevskiy we know....
The '04 Cup is tainted. 'Taint Calgary's.
love the blue panthers jersey!
It might be helpful for each team stat if next to said stat on the left and right you also had the league rank to give more context
Not hyped about the 12:30 first game start but whatever, guess there’s better things to complain about.
I hate afternoon hockey, especially in playoffs 😂 Always miss the games because of work 😭
As a European viewer, I really do appreciate watching some playoff hockey at reasonable time 😄
@@mattisipila241 what would be a reasonable time for you over there?
@@Usiris23 Well 12:30 start is 19:30 in Finland, which makes watching the whole game easy. Watching games after midnight especially on sundays isn't really wise decision 😅
@@justjohnny420 As a Brit, I was so happy to see the start time, meaning that I could finally watch a playoff game live - probably the only one. Go Cats!
This is gonna be a fun one
cant wait for this one
I expect vasilevsky to be doing headspins during the playoffs
Vasilesky vs Bobrovsky-round 4-I believe there is a huge rivalry between these two-can’t wait to see who wins
For Tampa, two things will be most important in these playoffs: 1. Defence needs to play better, keeping GAA low (2-2.5). 2. No injuries to key players. Tampa has no line-up depth, with a possible injury the first to step in will be Chafee, Watson and De Haan.... We have seen how much the transfer of Duclair has given, before that Kucherov had to fill the gaps in the top6 by playing double shifts. If we look at the first round matches in the East I think Tampa has the best chance of a upset.
this gonna be a real brawl can't wait
I feel like Tampa is going to come out of this series just because of Vasy. Even though he hasn't been as good as previous years; last years playoff performance was forgettable but he seems to do extremely well majority of games against Florida, especially in playoffs.
Shannon, with the Devils out, what is your revised prediction for the finals? On my end, Carolina vs Edmonton
Another tough one to call. Somehow, I see Okposo getting the series clinching empty net goal to seal it for Fl. Cat's in 7
this is probebly the series where a furst round sweep either way would be the biggest "What happened?" I expect each game in the series to be an absolute battle & nothing being given for free, but also winning the battle of Florida should give the eventual victor some serious confidence for the 2nd round
The Sunshine State Showdown
I will cry if Stamkos leaves us.
Better offense and better goalie. Elite defenemen. Tampa also has Kuch. Florida has none of these things. Regular season doesn't matter.
best series first round .
I gotta say I feel like the Lightning are going to get one last upset of the Panthers before they finally get over the hump. The Deadline additions for the lightning have been amazing and they are coming around at the right time, and with the prospect of being an official dynasty if they win their 3rd cup in 5 years, I think the Lightning take it in 7
Go cats! Since the wings are out, on to my scapegoat team.
This series and the ECF could be absolutely brutal.
I thought Florida was playing the Leafs until 30 seconds ago😮. Thanks for the preview.
Boston hot-dogged the final two games on their way to a matchup against the Leafs. Can't really blame them, as Toronto is (likely) a much better matchup for them.
As a bolts fan im hoping for a long series. Should be a fun one!
This is the most interesting 1st round matchup at least for me 🙂lots of ppl favors Florida but Tampa can sure play in the playoffs - they will be tough to beat. And it will get very physical at some stage - so great fun all the fans 🙂
8:50 uh oh flames
Tampa bay
Is this three or four in a row for these two teams to meet in the playoffs?
The Top6 on TB can't stop anyone from scoring. That can be a huge problem for them. I'll say FLA in 5
Aside from the Top 6. it's the blue line lack of depth that is also a big problem. THG keeps talking up Hedman...He's a likely HOFer, but he hasn't been the same the last two years as before then.
@@flarrfan lol. THG talks up a few players on TB.
Hopefully this becomes a rivalry the more meaningful the games they play
Already a rivalry lmao
It's been a rivalry for years. They had a line brawl in a preseason game a couple years ago
I think Tampa has a real chance, but this is a true rivalry round. Whoever gets out of this series will probably be pretty banged up. Vasy vs. Bob is going to be fun. I'm a Lightning fan, so I say Lightning in 6.
If you are wearing panthers jersey is it jinxed for the Panthers?😊
Ah, the battle of Florida. Both teams are good and should be a long serves. I think it comes down to depth and for that reason, I'm taking the Panthers in 6.
TBay in 7
I may have missed it but, thoughts on penalty minutes throughout the season? I feel like the Panthers take a lot of penalties and with Tampa's power play looking as good as it does, I would be interested in your take on how that may effect this series. Across the playoffs in general, it seems like there are probably a few teams that need to address staying out of the box as they head into the first round.
As a die hard Lightning fan I have to admit that I dont think they have enough depth this year to go far. I’ll say Panthers in 6 , but we all know the Lightning can turn it up in the Playoffs. I just think Florida is the better team this year and they’re due. Going to be a bloodbath. Cheers to a great series lets go Panther fans 🍻
IMO all depends on which goalie shows up, this season's Vasy or the playoff Vasy we've seen so many times before.
May the best team win 🤝
The numbers are a bit lying... Bolts is the best team imho, but the goaltending this year is the major issue in my book..
Battle of Florida, I will definitely watch outside of the Dallas series. I hope the Panthers win this time. They have a team to reckon with after taking the fight to Vegas in last year's battle for the Stanley Cup. I say Panthers in 5 games
Even tough It's my first season watching the NHL, I smell blood in the water for TB and an upset!
The Battle of Florida
Thanks for all your efforts you put in these videos but You do have a mistake on the board, Panthers have 200 GA on the entire season not 198.
Hm I dont know. ...there are so many ifs here. Hope Tampa, but I think Florida
Should be a great series. Panthers look amped and hungry but I still think the Bolts have the juice to win in 6. Btw, I love that there exists people still completely bitter about the manner in which the Bolts won their Stanley Cups. As if they didn’t have to go through the gauntlet to win. Cry away! “ Tears of unfathomable sadness. Mmm yummy!”
TAMPA MENTIONEDDDD!!! GO BOLTS!!!
I kind of wish this was later in the playoffs. This one and Leafs vs Bs should be the two best series on paper.
Don’t forget knights-stars.
The Tamiami Tussle - Round 3
Tampa has picked up some weapons. It’s gonna come down to if our guys are healthy in time for playoffs and how we do on special teams and defense. God the defense…
I think TB in 6, but I think they are going to the Cup Finals vs the Avs
Panthers in 6! Finally going to the TB mountain
Going to be a real knife fight
5 comments. 3 are utter nonesense. bots really have taken over all community engagement on the internet. sad. i have tampa in 6. honestly, these were my 2 favourites out of the east and up until game 82... i really thought was going to be a great 2nd round matchup. both these teams are better than boston and toronto IMO. boston cant rely on OT point loses in the playoffs
GO BOLTS! And is Tampa winning EVER an upset the better question atm. They've been solid since what, 2016?
They haven’t been just ‘solid’, they’ve been absolutely insane, they have been the most consistently good team for the last decade. Tampa is never an easy matchup
Battle of Florida IV
The Battle of Interstate 75
Welp, what to say wish I wasn't a fan of one of these teams to enjoy it more without the emotional rollercoaster that's sure to come with it. I saw two Tampa teams this years one before the trade deadline and one after. The one before was really poor defensively and was unable to put together a string of wins. The one we saw the last month of the year was a team capable of beating anyone. The Defense has been playing well together even without Sergachev who we aren't likely to see in this series. Both of these teams have tons of goals scorers up and down their lineups. Therefore the bluelines will probably make the difference and I still give an edge to Florida and the nod in this series.
LETS GO BOLTS
Florida needs this so bad, cannot lose this series. I have Lightening fatigue, please Panthers, you can do it!
I'm pissed at the start time. My son is in the Lightning hockey development program, and the game is scheduled at the same time as his game.
Is Tampa beating Florida really considered an upset? Since 2020 Tampa’s only lost to one Eastern conference team in the Playoffs
That was in the past and Tampa Bay doesn't have anywhere near the depth they had when they won their Cups and they certainly don't have the amount of depth that Florida has. So, yes, it would be considered an upset.
I notice the hockey guy is wearing a panthers jersey. Is that his favorite in this series? Lol