Lightning, Bruins Introduced at Raymond James Stadium

NHL rivals face off in outdoor matchup at Tampa's NFL venue

Feb. 1, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, two of the NHL's top teams, were introduced to the crowd at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The outdoor hockey matchup between the Eastern Conference rivals is part of the league's growing slate of high-profile outdoor games.

Why it matters

The NHL has made outdoor games a marquee part of its regular season schedule in recent years, allowing the league to showcase its top talent and rivalries in unique settings. This matchup between the Bruins and Lightning, two of the Eastern Conference's powerhouses, is expected to draw a large crowd and national television audience.

The details

Players from both the Bruins and Lightning took the field at Raymond James Stadium to be introduced to the crowd ahead of their outdoor clash. The game is part of the NHL's Stadium Series, which features select regular season matchups played in open-air venues like NFL and college football stadiums.

  • The game is scheduled for February 2, 2026.

The players

Boston Bruins

One of the NHL's Original Six franchises, the Bruins are a perennial Stanley Cup contender led by star players like Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Lightning are led by superstar forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.

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What’s next

The Bruins and Lightning will face off in the outdoor game at Raymond James Stadium on February 2, 2026.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the NHL's top teams will showcase the league's growing outdoor game initiative, allowing fans to experience a unique hockey atmosphere in the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.