They have been in the same league since Florida was granted an expansion franchise for the 1993-94 season, but there is an absence of history binding the Eastern Conference finalists other than the 1997 first-round series in which the Blueshirts took out the Puddy Tats in five games.
Stoking the rivalry between these teams will have to wait until Matthew Tkachuk or Sam Bennett or someone either is punched in the mouth or does that to a player on the other side.
The 1997 series was an interesting one.
The Panthers were defending Eastern Conference champs after having obstructed their way to the 1996 Cup final, where they were swept by the Avalanche. The Panthers also held home ice for the first-round matchup after finishing three points ahead of the Rangers in the Atlantic — if you could remember the teams ever played in the same division, please claim your prize.
