TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning will be on the road to start the first round of the NHL playoffs, but they won't have to go far.

The Bolts’ first-round opponent in the Eastern Conference playoffs will be the rival Florida Panthers.

What You Need To Know

  • NHL 1st round playoffs: Tampa Bay Lightning to face Florida Panthers 

  • Tampa Bay ends regular season Wednesday night against Toronto

  • NHL Playoffs begin Saturday 

The Bolts swept the Panthers just two years ago in the 2nd round of the playoffs. This post-season meeting between in-state foes will be the third meeting in the past four seasons. 

Tampa Bay wraps up the regular season Wednesday night hosting the Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena.

The playoffs begin Saturday.

Dates and times for the Lightning-Panthers best-of-seven series will be determined after tomorrow’s regular season final games.

Florida and Tampa Bay played three times in the regular season, with the Panthers winning the first two, 3-2 on Dec. 27 and 9-2 on Feb. 17. The Lightning won 5-3 on March 16.

Last season, Florida lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Lightning was defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in the first round.