:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5XVIHKRZYRHCPDD7JFAOLMGGUQ.JPG "Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) checks Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The teams will play three times next preseason, including Oct. 5 at Amway Center in Orlando.")
The Lightning moved one step closer to the 2021-22 season with Monday’s release of their preseason schedule.
Seven games are slated between Sept. 28-Oct 9. The Lightning will play the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators twice each and the Florida Panthers three times.
Tampa Bay will play each team once at home and once on the road. In addition, the Lightning will play the Panthers Oct. 5 at Amway Center in Orlando, home of the Bolts’ ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears, and the NBA’s Magic.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public at a date to be announced. Season ticket holders for the Lightning, Solar Bears and Magic will have the chance for an exclusive presale for the Oct. 5 game.
This will be the Lightning’s fourth game at Amway Center and eighth appearance in Orlando. They last played at Amway on Sept. 27, 2018, beating the Panthers 6-2.
The Lightning will open the preseason against the Hurricanes Sept. 28 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Their first home preseason game will be Sept. 30 against the Predators.
The Lightning defeated the Panthers in six games in the opening round of the playoffs and ousted the Hurricanes in five in the second round en route to their second straight Stanley Cup.
Here is the full preseason schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 28 | @ Carolina Hurricanes | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena |
| Sept. 30 | vs. Nashville Predators | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena |
| Oct. 1 | vs. Carolina Hurricanes | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena |
| Oct. 2 | @ Nashville Predators | 8 p.m. | Bridgestone Arena |
| Oct. 5 | vs. Florida Panthers | 7 p.m. | Amway Center (Orlando) |
| Oct. 7 | vs. Florida Panthers | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena |
| Oct. 9 | @ Florida Panthers | 7 p.m. | BB&T Center |
Lightning extend affiliation with Solar Bears
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/Y4AYIBOO7TVIJDOSDZKR7DMWQE.jpg "Orlando Solar Bears forward Aaron Luchuk (91) and Jacksonville Icemen forward Derek Lodermeier (16) face off during an ECHL game in June at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.")
The Solar Bears will continue to be the Lightning’s ECHL (“AA”) affiliate for the next two seasons, general manager Julien BriseBois announced.
The Lightning’s relationship with the Solar Bears began at the start of the 2018-19 season. To date, 22 players have appeared with the Solar Bears and the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
“We are extremely grateful for our affiliation with the Solar Bears,” BriseBois said in a release. “(President) Chris Heller, (head coach and general manager) Drake Berehowsky and the entire organization provide a world class environment for our players to develop in a winning culture while also growing the game in the Sunshine State.”
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