Round one seemed like quite the test for the Lighting as they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in a series that lasted as long as seven games long, but the defending cup champs still held their composure strongly.
Round two was surprisingly much easier for the Lighting as they faced the Florida Panthers in the battle of two teams for the Florida area, Florida were the favourites to win the cup throughout the entire NHL 2021-22 season. The Lighting played some of their best hockey seen in quite some time, and the Panthers did the opposite. Defeating the Panthers in a almost-sweep type of way, with a whopping series record of 4 wins (Tampa) to 1 win (Florida).