from Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Bay Times,

It sits by its lonesome in Amalie Arena, on an end table between a couch and a chair outside Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman's office: the Governor's Cup. The crystal vase was awarded exactly one time, to the winner of the 2013-14 season series between the Lightning and the downstate Florida Panthers.

How can we forget Lightning players skating around the ice with the Governor's Cup over their heads?

"I don't think we ever really got to that point," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said with a grin.

The Governor's Cup shouldn't be confused with the Nextel Cup or Florida Blue Cup, other short-lived contrivances aimed at propping up the arid intrastate rivalry between these hockey clubs.

It's inexcusable that Lightning-Panthers hasn't amounted to anything. We're not asking for Montreal-Quebec or Islanders-Rangers. Just a heart beat, if only in the name of geography.

Nothing. Nearly a quarter-century, 122 games, including 50 Lightning wins. Nothing.

They will try again when they meet Tuesday night at Amalie. The Lightning and Panthers, both off to a 2-0-0 start, are expected to fight for the Atlantic Division crown. Maybe it's time to dust off that Governor's Cup.

"I don't even think the governor knows what the Governor's Cup is," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "There is no rivalry. There's no history. It's amazing."

continued