Panthers Host Lightning in Thrilling Preseason Finale Preview

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Panthers Host Lightning in Thrilling Preseason Finale Preview

As the preseason comes to a close, the Florida Panthers are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The thrilling match will take place tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. This game marks an exciting moment for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming regular season, which kicks off on October 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Final Preseason Matchup Overview

The Panthers are eager for one last chance to refine their strategies ahead of the regular season. Forward Eetu Luostarinen expressed the team’s enthusiasm, noting that everyone looks forward to the start of the competitive season.

Previous Encounters

In their last meeting, the Panthers suffered a 5-2 loss to the Lightning, which was notable for the intense atmosphere. A combined total of 186 penalty minutes showcased the physicality of the match, akin to postseason play.

Team Lineup and Expectations

Tonight’s game will see a mostly veteran lineup for the Panthers, including forward Cole Schwindt, who recently returned to the team after being claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights. Schwindt, who was initially drafted by the Panthers in 2019, remarked on the familiarity of rejoining a team filled with known faces.

Projected Forward Lineup:
- Carter Verhaeghe
- Eetu Luostarinen
- Jack Studnicka
- Jesper Boqvist
- Evan Rodrigues
- Luke Kunin
Projected Defensemen:
- Uvis Balinskis
- Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola
- Seth Jones
- Dmitry Kulikov
- Jeff Petry
Goaltenders:
- Sergei Bobrovsky
- Daniil Tarasov

Some key players, including Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell, will not participate in tonight’s game. Lundell, who missed the previous encounter due to an upper-body injury, has been spotted skating with the team.