The reignited Florida vs Tampa Bay rivalry is what the NHL has been craving

"Two teams who have been showered in glory throughout the 2020's, the Tampa Bay Lightning vs the Florida Panthers rivalry has taken a lot of steps as of late, and the fire and grit we are beginning to see again in Florida is exactly what the NHL has been wanting to see. Both have the best of the best, both have physicality and fearlessness, and now, it looks like a matchup of hatred more than just another game."

"The Panthers have gotten the better of Tampa in recent years, winning the last two Stanley Cup's which included their humiliation over Tampa in the first round of last season's playoffs, dismantling the Lightning in a 4-1 series. However it was also a series which involved a lot of growing tension involving heavy hits, dirty physical plays, and a lot of fighting. It doesn't look like a normal rivalry anymore, and that fire will continue to burn as this season goes on."

"Even before the season started, two preseason games between the two foes saw some deadly hits and a lot of playoff like physicality that ended in some pretty nasty scenes. The Lightning's Brandon Hagel was ejected from one of the games after an altercation with AJ Greer who was ultimately fined for roughing Hagel including punching and cross-checking, and at one point each team only had three players on each bench following a massive line brawl."

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers rivalry has reignited in Florida, becoming intensely physical and hostile. Both teams enjoyed major success throughout the 2020s and boast top-level rosters marked by physicality and fearlessness. The Panthers won the last two Stanley Cups and eliminated the Lightning 4-1 in the first round last season, a series marked by heavy hits, dirty plays, and frequent fighting. Two preseason games featured deadly hits, an ejection, fines, and a massive line brawl that left only three players on each bench at one point. The rivalry now resembles hatred more than a typical divisional matchup and promises sustained intensity.

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