CHRIS DRIEDGER

Adam Erne scored the decisive goal in a shootout and the Detroit Red Wings won their fourth straight game by beating the Seattle Kraken 4-3.

The Seattle Kraken have set their initial roster.

Expect a fast and furious NHL offseason to unfold in the coming days and weeks.

The Florida Panthers entrusted their season to a rookie goalie making his playoff debut.

Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2 and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup.

Ryan Lomberg scored on a breakaway 5:56 into overtime to cap a furious comeback and give the Florida Panthers a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup.

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped 63 of 65 shots from the Minnesota Wild over the first two games of their West Division playoff series.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 shots, Steven Stamkos and Ondrej Palat had first-period goals and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Central Division first-round playoff series.

The first-ever playoff game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers could be tough to top.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were introduced to the National Hockey League in 1992, with the Florida Panthers arriving a year later. Tacking on the Panthers years of both futility and mediocrity, the two have never met in the playoffs. Watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)In their first ever meeting in the postseason, the Panthers come into the series with home ice advantage as the no. Even though, on paper, some may view the Panthers as underdogs, they were able to take the regular season series from the Bolts, winning five of the eight meetings, including two at Amalie Arena. What: NHL PlayoffsWho: (3) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (2) Florida PanthersWhen: Sunday, May 16Time: 7:30 PM ETWhere: BB&T Center (Sunrise, Fla.)Channel: NBC Sports NetworkStream: FuboTV (7-day free trial)

The Tampa Bay Lightning started three Black forwards in their regular-season finale against the Florida Panthers, a rarity in NHL history — if not an absolute first.

Chris Driedger stopped 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season, Juho Lammikko scored a short-handed goal, and the Florida Panthers secured home-ice advantage for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale for both clubs.

Alex Wennberg scored the winning goal in overtime and the Florida Panthers beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 19: Patric Hornqvist #70 of the Florida Panthers scores a first period goal past Thomas Greiss #29 of the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on February 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – Patric Hornqvist scored in the first and third periods to help the Florida Panthers start and finish strong in a 7-2 victory over the the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. After winning an NHL-low 17 games last season, the Red Wings are among the league's worst teams with 15 losses in 19 games. “This was unacceptable.”When the Red Wings briefly had positive moments Friday night, they didn't last long. AdThe Panthers have won six straight on the road against the Red Wings and 11 of last 13 games overall against them.

The Florida Panthers scored four goals in the opening period and went on to defeat the Red Wings 7-2 at Little Caesars Arena. It was the Red Wings’ most lopsided defeat of the season, equaling the most goals they have allowed. The Red Wings fell to 4-12-3. The Red Wings rebounded from the atrocious opening period to play a solid second period. Florida is 10-1 in its past 11 games against the Red Wings and has won six in row in Detroit.

Florida’s 6-1-2 start through nine games is the second-best in franchise history, topped only by the 6-0-3 record to open the 1996-97 season. “We've been consistent in most games," Florida coach Joel Quenneville said. Starting poorly, however, has pretty much snuffed out some Panthers seasons before they even started. The five Florida teams that went to the playoffs — 1995-96, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2011-12 and 2015-16 — averaged 12 standings points through the season’s first nine games. There’s obviously a long way to go, but the Panthers finally have the start they wanted.

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, left, and Detroit Red Wings right wing Givani Smith fight during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)SUNRISE, Fla. – Givani Smith had a goal and an assist as Detroit Red Wings won for the first time in nine games, beating the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Sunday. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (2021 Getty Images)Greiss, who moved to 1-7-2, stopped a three-on-one Florida break with the Red Wings ahead 2-1 in the third period. Sam Gagner notched his first assist with the Red Wings on the goal. After getting into four games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, Marchment played left wing on the fourth line with right wing Noel Acciari and center Juho Lammikko. AdON THE MENDRed Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi was injured when Florida visited Detroit last week and is expected to miss a few more games.

The Detroit Red Wings stopped an eight-game slide Sunday and handed the Florida Panthers their first regulation loss with a 4-1 victory at BB&T Center. The Panthers (6-1-2) had won eight in a row against the Red Wings. The Red Wings lost Luke Glendening with 7:49 remaining in the first period after he was leveled by a shoulder check to the head by Radko Gudas. The Red Wings scored twice in the second period to take a 2-0 lead. It was Staal’s first goal as a Red Wing and only the second goal this season by a Detroit defenseman.

Patric Hornqvist, Aaron Ekblad, and Carter Verhaeghe scored and the Florida Panthers held off the Detroit Red Wings for a 3-2 win Sunday night. Anthony Mantha scored with 1:48 remaining to pull the Red Wings within a goal after Detroit pulled Thomas Greiss to add an extra skater. “Getting off to a good start enhances that attitude.”Greiss stopped 27 shots for the Red Wings, who have dropped six straight. The Panthers outshot the Red Wings 17-9 in the second period as they took control. The Red Wings play the Lighting on the road Wednesday night.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 30: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena on January 30, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – Patric Hornqvist, Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe scored and the Florida Panthers held off the Detroit Red Wings for a 3-2 win Sunday night. “Getting off to a good start enhances that attitude.”Greiss stopped 27 shots for the Red Wings, who have dropped six straight. The Panthers outshot the Red Wings 17-9 in the second period as they took control. The Red Wings play the Lighting on the road Wednesday night.