The Florida Panthers opened their Stanley Cup playoffs with a commanding 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, taking a 1-0 series lead. Matthew Tkachuk, making a notable return after a two-month injury absence, scored twice, showcasing his offensive prowess on the power play. Sam Bennett initiated the Panthers' scoring, followed by contributions from Sam Reinhart and Nate Schmidt, who both capitalized on Tampa's defensive lapses.

Despite the absence of star defenseman Aaron Ekblad, serving a suspension, Florida's blueline stood strong, limiting Tampa's scoring chances and allowing their forwards to shine. The Panthers effectively utilized screens and deflections to beat Andrei Vasilevskiy, contrasting their previous series struggles against the Lightning. The Panthers' success came from both aggressive forechecking and physical play, crucial for maintaining their edge in the upcoming games.

In a thrilling matchup, the Tampa Bay Lightning showcased their offensive prowess against the Buffalo Sabres, winning 7-4. Jake Guentzel reached a significant milestone, scoring his 40th goal of the season. Lightning's Nikita Kucherov, leading the NHL in scoring, contributed two goals and an assist.

The first period saw Buffalo momentarily take the lead with back-to-back goals from Jiri Kulich and Conor Clifton, but Tampa Bay responded fiercely in the second period, scoring four goals, including a highlight-reel effort from Kucherov. Conor Geekie and Emil Lilleberg also found the net, with Lilleberg scoring his first career NHL goal.

While Buffalo struggled, continuing a winless streak, Tampa Bay capitalized on their momentum, with a strong showing from their supporting cast, including multiple assists from Gage Goncalves and Brandon Hagel. Tampa now looks to maintain their form as they prepare for upcoming challenges.

NHL betting enthusiasts have their eyes on Jake Guentzel as he faces the New York Rangers. With a consistent performance of over 2.5 shots in his last five games, the odds reflect his likelihood of continuing this trend against a team that allows a high number of shots. Meanwhile, Robert Thomas is on a hot streak, notching at least one assist in seven consecutive games, making his prop of over 0.5 assists a compelling choice. Additionally, Connor Hellebuyck is expected to excel in goal against the St. Louis Blues, likely surpassing 21.5 saves based on his recent form post the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Auston Matthews showcased his skills with a three-point period, tying him for third in franchise history for such performances, as the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a vital win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The win kept them close to the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers. Jake Guentzel's 15th power-play goal of the season bolstered the Lightning, currently maintaining second place in the division.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils' Jake Allen delivered an impressive 45-save performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets, denying them crucial points in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race. This was a tightly contested day in the NHL, with four out of five games decided by one or two goals. As the league progresses, the playoff race intensifies, particularly in the Eastern Conference where multiple teams vie for the final Wild Card spots.

The Tampa Bay Lightning secured a 2-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, thanks to a stellar performance from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who recorded his sixth shutout of the season and 39th career shutout. Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring with a breakaway goal, and Jake Guentzel added an empty-netter, giving him the league lead in power-play goals. The Lightning have now won eight of their last nine home games, while the Flyers have struggled, suffering back-to-back shutouts and losing seven of their last eight games.

Vasilevskiy faced 21 shots, demonstrating excellent form as he ties Jocelyn Thibault for 49th on the all-time shutout list. The Flyers, despite a four-minute power play opportunity, were unable to capitalize and went 0 for 5 on the night, extending their power play drought to 0 for 23. Kucherov has been particularly effective at home against the Flyers, recording points in ten consecutive games against them. With this victory, Tampa Bay continues to establish itself as a formidable force heading into the latter part of the season.