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Lightning, Rays or Brady and Bucs? A schedule dilemma

The Lightning’s Eastern Conference final series starts Monday at 8 p.m. on NBCSN. But next Sunday is the real test for Tampa Bay fans.
 
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates his winning goal against the Boston Bruins with teammates Ondrej Palat (18), Patrick Maroon (14) and Alex Killorn (17) on Aug. 31 in Toronto.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates his winning goal against the Boston Bruins with teammates Ondrej Palat (18), Patrick Maroon (14) and Alex Killorn (17) on Aug. 31 in Toronto. [ FRANK GUNN | AP ]
Published Sept. 6, 2020|Updated Sept. 6, 2020

It’s been a week since the last Lightning game. They arrived in Edmonton on Saturday and will kick off the Eastern Conference final against the Islanders on Monday night.

The conference final will be broadcasted nationally, as the semifinals were. The Lightning-Islanders and Stars-Golden Knights will alternate days with no back-to-back games on the schedule for either series.

Related: The Lightning had to learn some harsh lessons on the way to the conference final

The Lightning and Islanders have a 3 p.m. matinee next Sunday in Game 4, setting up an overlap with quarterback Tom Brady’s Buccaneers debut kicking off at 4:30 p.m. in New Orleans; that game airs on Fox. Next Sunday’s Lightning game is one of two slated for NBC instead of NBCSN, and the network carries Sunday Night Football.

For added fun next Sunday, the playoff-contending Rays also wrap up a series against the Red Sox, starting at 1:10 on Fox Sports Sun.

Lightning-Islanders schedule

Game 1: Monday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 3: Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m., USA Network

Game 4: Sunday, Sept. 13, 3 p.m., NBC

Game 5*: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 6*: Thursday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 7*: Saturday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Stars-Golden Knights schedule

Game 1: Sunday, Sept. 6, 8 p.m., NBC

Game 2: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 3: Thursday, Sept. 10, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 4: Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 p.m., NBC

Game 5*: Monday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 6*: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 8 p.m., NBCSN

Game 7*: Friday, Sept. 18, 9 p.m., NBCSN

* — if necessary