Panthers-Lightning mashup a winner as Syracuse takes AHL opener

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning have been competing against each other every year since the Panthers came into the NHL in 1993.

The two cross-state rivals have shared not only the same state, but same division for the past 28 years.

Saturday night, the two officially joined forces on the ice for the first time as the AHL team they are temporarily sharing kicked off the 2021 season.

It was a victorious start to an odd partnership.