Fans take in Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL Stadium Series game on Feb. 1, 2026 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Nicole Abbett / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Outside of watching Dave Andreychuk and Steven Stamkos hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup three times, last Sunday’s Stadium Series game may have been the best thing Tampa Bay Lightning fans have ever witnessed.
The matchup—announced more than a year ago and brought to life in dramatic action atRaymond James Stadium—had it all, including near freezing temperatures for (squints) outdoor hockey in Florida. In the end, the Lightning prevailed over the Boston Bruins 6-5 allowing the boys in blue to keep their place atop the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division.
From Brandon Hagel’s goal 11 seconds into the first period (the fastest ever for an outdoor NHL game), to the epic goalie fight in the second frame, to the Bolts’ dramatic shootout comeback win from four goals down, there was not a second to breathe.
Hell, the Lightning even arrived to the stadium dressed in the Bucs creamsicles while the Bruins did some kind of cosplay resembling the guy from the Samuel Adams bottles.
It’s a damn shame the Bay area may never get to see such a spectacle again. Here are snaps from Hockeytown, U.S.A.
All photos by Nicole Abbett/Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
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This article appears in Jan. 29 – Feb. 04.
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Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief…
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