The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs brought with it another heated chapter in the so-called “Battle of Florida,” as the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off in what many anticipated would be a tightly contested series. With both teams boasting a history of postseason success and a roster full of star talent, expectations were high for a dramatic showdown between the state rivals.

However, what unfolded on the ice was a display of dominance from the Panthers, who quickly dispatched the Lightning in just five games, leaving little doubt about which team currently holds the upper hand in the Sunshine State.

As the final buzzer sounded in Game 5 at Amerant Bank Arena, emotions ran high—not just among the players and fans, but also in the post-game commentary. Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, never one to shy away from the spotlight, made headlines with his candid remarks about the rivalry, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already intense series.

With Tampa Bay now facing an uncertain offseason and Florida surging forward, the dynamic between these two franchises seems to be shifting, raising questions about what the future holds for both sides in this evolving rivalry.

Photo credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images

The Florida Panthers put their state rival away rather quickly in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and after Game 5, Matthew Tkachuk had some disrespectful comments for their beaten opponents.

While the Battle of Florida was hyped as one of the most exciting and potentially competitive matchups of this Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers made short work of their opponents, downing them 6-3 in Game 5 to walk away with the 4-1 series victory.

Some of the games were competitive, but for the most part, it’s the defending Stanley Cup Champions that dominated, and despite being touted as a genuine threat, the Lightning simply fell apart, and now head into the summer with plenty of questions to answer.

Before that however, there were some post-game comments, and in that time, superstar Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk managed to throw plenty of shade at their in-state ‘rivals’ after eliminating them for the second straight season in dominant fashion.

I don’t know if it’s really a rivalry.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning made three straight Stanley Cup Finals between 2020 and 2022, it’s now the Panthers turn to dominate, as they’ve made it in the last two years, and as a result, it appears that they’ve left their Florida rivals in the dust.

For a veteran team like Tampa Bay, this may or may not effect them too much moving forward, but with some of their big stars potentially having to make key decisions about their future, the comments may hurt for now, but with a big summer ahead, it’s safe to say that they won’t be focusing on Tkachuk’s comments too much.