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What channel is Lightning vs. Panthers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 1 of NHL Playoff series

Sloan Piva

What channel is Lightning vs. Panthers on today? Time, TV schedule, live stream to watch Game 1 of NHL Playoff series image

In a battle of Sunshine State rivals, the Lightning take on the Panthers at Amalie Arena in Tampa for Game 1 of their opening-round series in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. It should be a must-watch game, with the odds basically set at a coin flip.

What more could you ask for from a first-round matchup? We've got Florida, the reigning champions and winners of the past two Eastern Conference Finals, against Tampa, the 2020 and 2021 back-to-back champs.

Both teams are stacked, capable of going completely nuclear on both sides of the ice. No wonder the Panthers and Lightning sit third and eighth, respectively, on most Stanley Cup Final odds boards.

Long story short, you're going to want to watch this game. The Sporting News will fill you in below on the puck drop time, TV broadcast, live-streaming details and more for Lightning vs. Panthers in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. 

What channel is Lightning vs. Panthers on today? 

  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: Fubo

Game 1 of Lightning vs. Panthers will air live on ESPN, with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Ray Ferraro (analyst), and Emily Kaplan (reporter) on the call. 

Fans can live-stream the broadcast — and every game that airs on the ESPN family of networks — with Fubo.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you purchase it. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.) 

Lightning vs. Panthers start time

  • Date: Tuesday, April 22
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs series between the Lightning and Panthers is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET from Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL.

Tampa Bay has gone 71-65-10-13 versus the Panthers all-time. The teams split their 2024-25 regular-season series 2-2 — no wonder the odds are a coin flip. 

Lightning vs. Panthers radio station

Fans can listen to the Canadiens vs. Capitals game live 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 vs. Panthers series schedule

DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live stream
April 22Game 1 at Tampa Bay8:30 p.m.ESPN, Fubo
April  24Game 2 at Tampa Bay6:30 p.m.TBS, truTV, Sling
April 26Game 3 at Florida1 p.m.TBS, truTV, Sling
April 28Game 4 at Florida7 p.m.ESPN, Fubo 
April 30Game 5* at Tampa BayTBATBA, Fubo or Sling
May 2Game 6* at FloridaTBATBA, Fubo or Sling
May 4Game 7* at Tampa BayTBATBA, Fubo or Sling

* 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. 

EventDate(s)
First round beginsApril 19
NHL Draft LotteryMay 5 or 6
NHL Scouting Combine at BuffaloJune 1-7
Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if necessary)June 23
NHL Draft in Los AngelesJune 27-28

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Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.