The Lightning are the defending Stanley Cup champions and have gotten healthy. But they've had trouble with the Panthers. Florida won the last two regular season meetings and nearly beat Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the series two days ago. The Panthers led, 4-3, midway through the third period before falling, 5-4. 

Florida outplayed Tampa Bay during regular -5-on-5 action, but gave up four special teams goals. 

Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Lightning's star goalie, is 1-3 in his last four starts against Florida. He's allowed 4.7 goals a game against the Panthers during this span.

This is close to must-win territory for the Panthers because a loss puts them in an 0-2 hole with the next two games at Tampa.
The Panthers have won 13 of their past 16 home games.