NBCSN’s coverage of the 2020-21 NHL season continues with the Thursday’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Lightning-Panthers stream coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
Thursday’s game features two of the top three teams in the Central Division as defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay hosts local rivals, the Florida Panthers. Both teams appear to be safe bets to make the playoffs, but they still have plenty to play for as they jockey for the top seed in the Central. Florida and Tampa Bay are tied on points with Carolina for first in the division.
This will be the fifth of eight meetings this season between these clubs. The teams split their first four games – all decided by two or more goals. The Panthers will face the Lightning in Tampa Bay again on Saturday. The two clubs will close out the regular season against each other with a pair of games at Florida.
Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is expected to miss his third straight game with a lower body injury
suffered last Thursday against Columbus.
[COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6:30 P.M. ET - NBCSN]
WHAT: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
WHERE: AMALIE Arena
WHEN: Thursday, April 15, 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN (^Blacked out in local market: Tampa Bay)
ON THE CALL: John Walton, Pierre McGuire
LIVE STREAM: You can watch the Lightning-Panthers stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
LIGHTNING
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Anthony Cirelli
Barclay Goodrow - Yanni Gourde - Blake Coleman
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - Mathieu Joseph
Patrick Maroon - Ross Colton - Mitchell Stephens
Victor Hedman - David Savard
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - Luke Schenn
Starting goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy
PANTHERS
Mason Marchment - Aleksander Barkov - Nikita Gusev
Jonathan Huberdeau - Alexander Wennberg - Anthony Duclair
Frank Vatrano - Lucas Wallmark - Patric Hornqvist
Juho Lammikko - Noel Acciari - Owen Tippett
Gustav Forsling - MacKenzie Weegar
Keith Yandle - Radko Gudas
Markus Nutivaara - Brandon Montour
Starting goalie: Chris Driedger