Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS)
There will be a Battle of Florida for the second straight year, but the stakes are much higher now. The Lightning are trying to become the first team to win the Stanley Cup in three straight seasons since the New York Islanders' run of four straight championships from 1980-83. The Panthers are looking to keep their Presidents' Trophy-winning season going. The Lightning could be without forward Brayden Point, who is doubtful for Game 1 because of a lower-body injury sustained during Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Point had four points (two goals, two assists) in the first round, including the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6. The Panthers defeated the Washington Capitals in six games for their first playoff series win since 1996.
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, CBC, SN, TVAS)
The Avalanche are in the second round for the fourth straight season but have not advanced past that round since 2002. This year, the expectations are high after they finished with the best record in the Central Division and Western Conference and swept the Nashville Predators in the first round. Goalie Darcy Kuemper sustained an eye injury during Game 3 of that series and missed Game 4, but is ready to go. The Blues finished third in the Central and defeated the Minnesota Wild in six games in the first round. They have tasted recent playoff success, winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. Goalie Jordan Binnington, who helped lead the Blues to that championship, is expected to start. He was in goal for all four games when Colorado swept St. Louis in the first round last year.
