Lightning, Bruins, and Pirates Weigh Anchor in Stadium Series Matchup at Raymond James Stadium
- Mike Smith
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
January 8, 2025.
That's when the National Hockey League and Tampa Bay Lightning announced the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game today, February 1st. For the first time ever in Tampa, Florida, the Bolts host the Boston Bruins in an outdoor matchup held at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In the 389 days since the announcement, hockey pundits, players, and fans have been curious and speculative about how the league could host an event of such magnitude in a subtropical climate like Tampa. Would they be able to play in temperatures averaging around 71 degrees this time of year?
In the 389 days since the announcement, many have wondered what theme the festivities would center on. Would there be a tropical theme? Perhaps a beach theme? Maybe even a Disney theme, even though Walt Disney World is in another city, 90 minutes away?
Now that the 389 days have passed and the day is finally here, there is a level of excitement among fans and teams that has never been experienced before in the Tampa Bay area.
Outdoor NHL hockey is here, and Raymond James Stadium will be center stage tonight in a nationally-brodcast event. Here's what you need to know:
The Basics
1 - 6:30 pm: Pregame festivities begin at 1 pm in lots 5 and 7 on the south side of the stadium. Open to game ticket holders, the NHL Pregame Fan Festival will feature vendors, family-friendly games, and music entertainment. Country music duo LOCASH performs.
3:30 pm: The Boston Bruins arrive near Lot D at the southwest corner of the stadium.
4 pm: The Tampa Bay Lightning arrive near Lot D at the southwest corner of the stadium.
4 pm: LOCASH performance at the NHL Pregame Fan Festival.
5 pm: Raymond James Stadium gates open.
6:30 pm: ESPN TV broadcast begins.
Shortly after 7 pm: Puck Drop.
First Intermission: Tim McGraw's performance on the field.
The Weather
Remember that question earlier about how the NHL would manage higher-than-indoor temperatures around 71 degrees? That is now a total non-factor as an unprecedented Arctic front basted its way through Tampa Saturday.
Some portions of the Tampa Bay area even saw brief scattered snow flurries overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Temperatures at game time are expected to be around 40 degrees with some light wind, 30 degrees lower than on average. It's as if the hockey gods shone their grace upon Tampa, or rather, in this case, their cold blessings.
There has even been discussion that the NHL may need to warm the ice a touch to ensure a good grip for those skate edges.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Lightning owner Jeff Vinik could not have planned it better. If you are attending the game, bundle, bundle, bundle.
The Theme
An annual tradition this time of year is Gasparilla, and the NHL is betting on pirates invading the extravaganza just as they did in Downtown Tampa on Saturday.
Gasparilla is a pirate-themed festival in Tampa that culminates in one of the largest parades in the United States every January. Tampa has hosted the Super Bowl five times since the 80's, and the NFL has never truly embraced the festival of pirates like the NHL is this year.
The entire field has been transformed into a treasure map with dotted routes, featuring shipwreck vessels and 120-plus prop barrels. There are player-themed landmarks, such as Vasilevskiy Bay, Kucherov Cove, McDonagh Marsh, Hagel Cove, Cirelli Cliffs, Hedman's Reef, and Brayden's Point of No Return.
The field will also feature actual floats from the Gasparilla parade, a "Thunderbug Cove," and a pirate plank for player walkouts.
The end zones are themed as "Boston Harbor" and "Tampa Bay." Even the stadium's existing 130-foot pirate ship will be integrated into the overall theme.
Take that, Disney!
The Game Itself
The Bruins enter the games after finishing January with an 11-2-1 record. The 11 wins tie for the most in January in franchise history. They are currently 32-20-3 with 67 points, fifth in the Atlantic Division and trailing Tampa Bay by five points.
David Pasternak, the team's leading scorer with 22 goals and 47 assists, has four goals and one assist in three outdoor games.
Morgan Geekie has 30 goals this season. Charlie McAvoy leads a tough Boston defense, and rookie Fraser Minton's 14 goals tie him for third with Matthew Schaefer among rookies.
The Atlantic Division-leading Lightning (34-14-4, 72 points) comes into February on a 16-1-1 run, the best record since the span began on December 20th. During that time, they are first in goals per game (4.06), goals against per game (2.29), and goal differential (plus-30).
Bolts leading scorer Nikita Kucherov has scored an NHL-best 31 points in January. Defenseman Darren Raddysh has 15 goals, and goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has not lost in regulation since December 18th, when he lost to the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1.
Since December 20th, Vasilevskiy is 13-0-1 with a 1.68 GAA and .943 game percentage.
Lightning Captain Victor Hedman returns to the ice for the first time since December. Hedman was activated off injured reserve around noontime on Sunday in time for the game. Hedman has not played since December 9th and underwent elbow surgery on December 15th.
The Prediction
Look for the Lightning to continue their winning ways today. Bolts will take this one handily and scourge the area of Boston and their Bruins, 4-2.
Comments