The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are in-state rivals, but the lack of bad blood and excitement between the teams has long perplexed the organizations and hockey fans alike.
In a great feature from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Bay Times, he details the lack of rivalry in the Sunshine state. In 2013-14, a trophy – the Governor’s Cup – was awarded to the winner of the season series between the teams. Lightning head coach suggested people simply don’t know about the history – because there isn’t any.
“I don’t even think the governor knows what the Governor’s Cup is,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “There is no rivalry. There’s no history. It’s amazing.”
Let’s check in with Craig Ramsay, who was an assistant with both organizations.
“I can’t really think of one game or moment that jumps out,” said Ramsay, who has coached for both teams.
Nothing?
How about Lightning co-founder Phil Esposito?
“All these years and it’s a blank,” Lightning co-founder Phil Esposito said.
The lack of history is truly stunning given how long both teams have been in the NHL and the fact they’re both from the same state. It’s set up to be a great rivalry, but a lack of interest or iconic moments has dampened what could be a fun battle.
The key ingredient to freshening up the rivalry is an eventual playoff series. Cooper agrees.
“Would it be great for hockey in Florida? Of course it would,” Cooper said. “It would be big. Playoffs. That’s what it will take. Both places packed, Alligator Alley filled with Panthers and Lightning fans going back and forth.”
It would be fun to see the Lightning and Panthers duke it out in a best-of-seven series, because right now, despite both teams being among the best in the NHL, there’s no traction in the rivalry. It’s unfortunate because it would do wonders for what has historically been a limp Florida hockey market.
