Panthers see defensive opening against Tampa bay Lightning tonight

There is a path to two points tonight, but it is not subtle. The Florida Panthers face a Tampa Bay Lightning team that still sits atop the Atlantic Division, yet arrives unusually vulnerable on the back end.

Tampa Bay's season-long defensive numbers remain strong. They rank near the top of the league in goals allowed, shots against, and penalty killing, which normally makes games against them grind-heavy and unforgiving.

The problem for the Lightning is availability. Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, and Emil Lilleberg are on injured reserve, Erik Cernak sits on LTIR, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has been sidelined since December 2.

That is not just depth missing, it is identity. Hedman and McDonagh anchor matchups, Cernak adds edge, and Vasilevskiy erases mistakes that inevitably happen over sixty minutes.

Florida cannot assume anything will come easily. Jon Cooper's teams are too well drilled for that. But the Panthers do hold a clear advantage tonight, and it lives in pressure and pace.

The Panthers' offense has found rhythm lately. They have scored four or more goals in four of their last five games, and that confidence matters entering a hostile building.

Tampa Bay's blue line tonight will lean on J.J. Moser and Darren Raddysh, supported by Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Maxwell Crozier, AHL call-up Declan Carlile, and veteran Steven Santini.

From a fan's perspective, this feels like a game Florida has to lean into, not manage. Passive hockey lets Tampa survive shorthanded.

The Panthers' best chance comes through sustained zone time. Low-to-high puck movement, traffic in front, and forcing young defenders to make repeated reads will stretch structure quickly.

Florida's forecheck can also tilt the ice. When they arrive in layers and finish checks, Tampa's breakout options shrink, especially without Hedman's reach and McDonagh's calm puck movement.

Up front, the Lightning remain dangerous regardless of who is missing behind them. Nikita Kucherov drives everything, Brayden Point attacks seams relentlessly, and the additions around them keep Tampa balanced.

Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli apply pressure both ways, while Jake Guentzel and Oliver Bjorkstrand add finishing punch. Florida cannot trade chances blindly.

That is where structure still matters. Florida must attack with numbers while protecting the middle, forcing Tampa to defend longer shifts instead of countering with speed.

This is not about embarrassing a depleted blue line. It is about recognizing opportunity and committing to it for sixty minutes.

Games like this often decide themselves early. If Florida establishes zone time and tempo, doubt creeps in fast for a patchwork defense.

If they hesitate, Tampa's stars will make them pay.

Tonight is not about who looks better on paper. It is about execution, urgency, and whether Florida chooses to press the advantage staring right back at them.