Tampa Bay's Vasilevskiy Aims to Inspire Youth at NHL Stadium Series

Goalie reflects on outdoor hockey memories as Lightning host first outdoor game in Florida

Jan. 31, 2026 at 3:55pm

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Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is looking forward to playing in the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Vasilevskiy reminisced about his childhood days playing outdoor hockey in Russia, where his mother would watch from their apartment window. Now, he'll get to play in front of 65,000 fans in Tampa, hoping to "spark a few dreams" for young hockey players in the area.

Why it matters

The NHL Stadium Series game in Tampa represents a unique opportunity to grow the sport of hockey in a non-traditional market. As one of the league's top goaltenders, Vasilevskiy's participation can inspire the next generation of players in Florida to take up the game.

The details

Vasilevskiy, 31, is having another strong season for the Lightning, who have gone 16-1-1 in their last 18 games despite injuries to key players like captain Victor Hedman. Vasilevskiy is a leading candidate for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender, posting a 24-7-3 record with a 2.04 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. This will be the second NHL outdoor game of his career, having previously played in the 2022 Stadium Series in Nashville.

  • The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game will take place on Sunday, January 26, 2026.
  • Vasilevskiy played in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series game against the Nashville Predators on February 26, 2022.

The players

Andrei Vasilevskiy

A 31-year-old goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning who is a leading candidate for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender this season.

Victor Hedman

The captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning who is expected to return to the lineup for the Stadium Series game after missing time due to an elbow injury.

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What they’re saying

“Me and my brother always were outside and spending time after school, just, you know, playing hockey and having fun.”

— Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Goaltender (NHL.com)

“To be honest, I was kind of really surprised when I heard at the beginning of the season that they would do something like this. But it seems to be working so far. And [Sunday] it should be pretty cold, so that's good for the ice quality.”

— Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Goaltender (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Lightning will host the Boston Bruins in the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, January 26, 2026.

The takeaway

Vasilevskiy's participation in the NHL's first outdoor game in Tampa represents an opportunity to grow the sport of hockey in Florida and inspire the next generation of players in the region. As one of the league's elite goaltenders, Vasilevskiy's experience playing outdoors as a child can resonate with young fans and potentially "spark a few dreams" for aspiring hockey players.