TAMPA — Eleven Lightning games will be televised nationally this season on ESPN or TNT, the NHL’s new U.S. television rights-holders.
ESPN will carry the Oct. 12 regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins as the first half of a doubleheader, one of three Lightning games the network will broadcast nationally on its flagship channel.
Three other games will be shown exclusively on subscription services ESPN+ and Hulu, including a Dec. 28 home game against the Montreal Canadiens, who the Lightning defeated in last season’s Stanley Cup final.
TNT will broadcast six Lightning games, including Tampa Bay’s outdoor Stadium Series game against the Nashville Predators Feb. 26 at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
TNT also will show the Lightning’s first trip to Seattle to face the expansion Kraken on March 16, as well as a trip to Long Island to face the New York Islanders— Tampa Bay’s Cup semifinal opponent — on March 27.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Oct. 12 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m, ESPN
Nov. 30 at St. Louis, 8, ESPN+/Hulu
Dec. 28 vs. Montreal, 7, ESPN+/Hulu
Feb. 23 vs. Edmonton, 7:30, TNT
Feb. 26 at Nashville, 7:30, TNT (Stadium Series)
Mar. 16 at Seattle, 10, TNT
Mar. 27 at N.Y. Islanders, 2, TNT
Mar. 29 vs. Carolina, 7, ESPN+/Hulu
April 12 at Dallas, 9:30, ESPN
April 6 at Washington, 7:30, TNT
April 21 vs. Toronto, 8 p.m., ESPN
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