Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins Face Off in NHL Stadium Series Game

The two hottest teams in the NHL meet outdoors in Tampa as Patrick Kane sets a new record for U.S.-born scorers.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:47pm

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As the NHL prepares for a 19-day break for the 2026 Winter Olympics, two of the league's hottest teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, will face off in an outdoor Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Sunday. Meanwhile, veteran forward Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings has become the all-time leading scorer among U.S.-born NHL players.

Why it matters

The NHL Stadium Series game in Tampa is a showcase event for the league, featuring two of its top teams and taking place in an outdoor setting. The game also comes just before the Olympic break, adding to the anticipation. Kane's record-setting accomplishment is a significant individual milestone for an American hockey legend.

The details

The Lightning and Bruins have been two of the NHL's best teams in recent months, despite injury issues for both squads. The Lightning have been led by unheralded defensemen like Darren Raddysh, while the Bruins have gotten key contributions from young forwards Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov. Both teams will be missing key centers on Sunday, with Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha out for the Bruins. Meanwhile, in Detroit, the 37-year-old Kane has passed Mike Modano as the NHL's all-time leading scorer among U.S.-born players, reaching 1,375 points in his storied career.

  • The NHL Stadium Series game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2026.
  • Patrick Kane set the new U.S.-born scoring record on Thursday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.