Round 1 preview: Panthers, Islanders seeking rare playoff success

The opening round of the NHL postseason will feature a matchup between two franchises that haven't won a single playoff series since 1996, as the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers take on the New York Islanders.

Related: Capitals-Flyers, Stars-Wild, Red Wings-Lightning

Florida took the first two meetings between the squads this season, but the Islanders won their most recent game less than a month ago.

A battle between Jaromir Jagr and John Tavares should make for an entertaining series.

Tale of the tape

Key Players

Roberto Luongo

One of the biggest keys to the young Panthers' rise this season has been the presence of their veteran goaltender - who, in his first-ever playoff series in Florida, will face the team that drafted him fourth overall in 1997.

After being traded by the Islanders, Luongo rose to stardom from 2000-06 in his first stint with the Panthers, but was never able to reach the postseason until moving to Vancouver.

Now with a Stanley Cup Final run under his belt, the 37-year-old will be leaned on heavily, but Florida should feel good about the veteran's .931 save percentage against the Islanders this season.

Brian Campbell

While appearing in his 1,000th NHL game earlier this week, the 36-year-old defenseman also set a franchise record by playing his 375th consecutive game with the Panthers.

Campbell, who led his team in ice time this season, will skate beside 20-year-old Aaron Ekblad through the first playoff series of his career, while anchoring their power-play unit against one of the league's top penalty-killing teams.

"He's reliable every night," head coach Gerard Gallant raved prior to game No. 1,000 and his consistency will be key on a blue line where every other defenseman - outside injured captain Willie Mitchell - is under 30.

John Tavares

A first-round series victory may not mean more to a single player on either team than the 25-year-old center.

Set to make his third Stanley Cup playoffs appearance, Tavares has been productive with 11 points in 13 career postseason games, but a series win may be enough to convince Kyle Okposo - arguably the most talented linemate he's ever had - to remain in Brooklyn with his unrestricted free agency pending.

He's entering the playoffs in incredible form with nine points in his past four games and 12 in his last seven, and no player can make more of a difference at the offensive end than the Islanders captain.

Schedule

*If necessary