Previewing Panthers vs. Lightning: New kids on the block against fading ex-champs

The first-round Stanley Cups Playoff series between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning could be a Sunshine State changing of the guard.

The battle — which begins at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, at 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday — features a relatively young, rising hot shot in the Panthers against an aging, but still dangerous recent champion, trying to hold on to its past glory in the Lightning.

Florida finished first in the Atlantic Division during the regular season after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals last year. This is the Panthers' fifth consecutive trip to the postseason, and twice, in 2020-21 and 2021-22, they were eliminated by Tampa Bay.

The Lightning, who are in the playoffs via the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot, won the Stanley Cup in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and reached the Cup Finals in 2021-22. They were eliminated in the first round last season.

Florida features outstanding players such as Alexander Barkov, Sam Reinhart (57 goals), Matthew Tkachuk, defenseman Brandon Montour and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Tampa Bay is led by decorated veteran stars Nikita Kucherov (the NHL's leading scorer with 144 points), Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, defenseman Victor Hedman and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

But no matter the ages and accomplishments of the players, there is the Florida rivalry.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Panthers captain Barkov said, via Jameson Olive of the NHL website. "It's going to be a battle. All the games against them — even training camp games — those games get emotional. It's going to be a lot of fun for both sides and just a hard battle."

Meanwhile, the aging champs have few words.

"They're a very talented team," Hedman said, per Field Level Media (h/t CBS Sports). "(Coach Paul) Maurice has gotten them going."

Will the young hot shots break through, or will the aging champs stave off Father Time?