The Tampa Bay Lightning are eyeing another deep playoff run, hoping to recapture Stanley Cup glory after going back-to-back in 2020 and 2021.
Entering the postseason as the Atlantic Division’s second seed, they bring both pedigree and playoff experience to the table.
Standing in their way are the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, who secured the third seed in the division and are hungry to defend their crown.
Tampa leans heavily on the elite playmaking of veteran winger Nikita Kucherov, while Florida counters with a well-rounded offensive punch led by Sam Reinhart and captain Aleksander Barkov.
The regular-season series between these two heated rivals was evenly split, with each team claiming two victories.
This marks the second consecutive year—and the third time in four seasons—that the Lightning and Panthers square off in the opening round. History favors the winner: each of their previous postseason meetings has produced a Stanley Cup finalist.
Here’s what you need to know to listen to Lightning playoff games in 2025.
Lightning radio station
- Radio station: 102.5 The Bone, SiriusXM
Local fans can listen to Lightning playoff games on flagship station 102.5 The Bone.
All Lightning game broadcasts are also available nationwide on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Lightning radio announcers
Dave Mishkin anchors the Lightning’s radio broadcast as the long-time play-by-play voice, delivering passion and emotion in every call since 2002. Prior to joining the ranks of the NHL, he called minor league hockey for more than a decade.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner and Hall of Fame forward Phil Esposito serves as the home game’s color commentator. Formerly a Chicago, Boston, and New York star, Esposito brings expert commentating and personality to the broadcasts now.
Lightning playoff schedule 2025
First round
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 22 | Game 1 at Lightning | 8:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, April 24 | Game 2 at Lightning | 6:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 26 | Game 3 at Panthers | 1:00 p.m. |
| Monday, April 28 | Game 4 at Panthers | TBA |
| Wednesday, April 30 | Game 5* at Lightning | TBA |
| Friday, May 2 | Game 6* at Panthers | TBA |
| Sunday, May 4 | Game 7* at Lightning | TBA |
* If necessary
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| First round begins | April 19 |
| NHL Draft Lottery | May 5 or 6 |
| NHL Scouting Combine at Buffalo | June 1-7 |
| Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 23 |
| NHL Draft at Los Angeles | June 27-28 |
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