Mar 17, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) is congratulated by left wing Ondrej Palat (18) after he scored a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The 2014-15 Tampa Bay Lightning regular season schedule has been released.
As announced yesterday, the Bolts will open their season on October 9 at the Tampa Bay Times forum against their in-state and divisional rival Florida Panthers.
Drum roll, please: The 2014-2015 #TBLightning schedule - http://t.co/QN6ogCbXbp #IsItOctoberYet pic.twitter.com/biZN9NVL6E
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 22, 2014
That will be the first contest of a three-game home stand for the Bolts as they welcome the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils to town as well.
The Bolts then head out on the road for a five-game trip that starts in Vancouver and ends in Minnesota with stops in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg in-between.
Former Bolt, Martin St. Louis, will make his return to Tampa on November 26, in what is the Rangers only visit to Tampa this season.
The team has 12 sets of back-to-backs and has four, five-game, road trips.
The Lighting are at home for the Christmas period with games on Dec 23, 27 and 29 but are on the road for a four-game trip when the new year kicks in.
There will also be a break in action from January 21-26 for the NHL All-Star game which will take place in Columbus.
From February 15-22, Jon Cooper’s men travel out west for a difficult five-game road trip against some of the Western Conference’s best teams.
The longest #TBLightning homestand will be six games, stretching over 13 days Mar 14-26.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) June 22, 2014
The regular season concludes with a three-game home stand as Montreal, New Jersey, and then Boston on April 11 come to town.
The Bolts preseason schedule has already been announced and can be found here.