The Tampa Bay Lightning take on their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, as they kick off the 2018-19 season at Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here!! The Tampa Bay Lightning officially kick off the 2018-19 NHL season tonight at the Amalie Arena in the heart of beautiful Downtown Tampa as they take on their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers.
Anyone who has been watching the Tampa Bay Lightning for any amount of time knows the depths of the rivalry between these two teams. It’s one thing to face a Divisional opponent; it’s a whole other animal when you’re facing off against someone you share real estate with.
This is going to be an interesting season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In addition to some of the changes to the roster which have taken place since the last time the Bolts were on the ice, there is a lot of young talent from the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, looking to make a name for themselves.
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One of the players to watch is forward prospect Mathieu Joseph. Joseph was a standout during the preseason and had the entire Bolts Nation buzzing. While preseason experience is all well and good, the regular season really is a whole different animal. It will definitely be interesting to see how he responds.
Lightning fans will also get their first real look at forward Danick Martel. Martel originally went undrafted in the NHL. In March of 2015 he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract by the Philadelphia Flyers. Two weeks ago, the Lightning claimed him off waivers from the Flyers, taking on his one-year contract.
Martel has only played four games in the NHL, all of which were last season with the Flyers. Unfortunately, he has yet to register any points on the scoreboard. Only time will tell if he will light the lamp for the Lightning tonight against the Panthers.
While everyone here in the Bolts Nation anxiously awaits the first official puck drop of the season later tonight, let’s take a closer look at all the information fans will need to stay on top of the action tonight between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers from the Amalie Arena.
Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Venue: Amalie Arena
Location: Tampa, Florida
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018
Start Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
TV Info: Fox Sports Sun, Fox Sports Florida
Radio Info: Lightning Radio on 970WFLA or TBL Power Play on iHeartRadio
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go App in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store
Last season was quite a rollercoaster ride for the Tampa Bay Lightning and their fans. While the Bolts didn’t make it all the way to the big game like they would’ve hope, this can only serve as fuel to the fire that burns inside them as they prepare to journey down the road to greatness once again.