2026 NHL Stadium Series
Outdoor game featuring the largest comeback in NHL outdoor history.
The 2026 NHL Stadium Series was an outdoor regular season National Hockey League game, part of the NHL Stadium Series. Played on February 1, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, it featured the host Tampa Bay Lightning against the Boston Bruins. The game is notable for being the first Stadium Series game for the Bruins and the second for the Lightning, as well as for the largest comeback in outdoor game and franchise history.
- Date
- February 1, 2026
- Venue
- Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Teams
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins
- Final Score
- Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Boston Bruins 5 (shootout)
- Attendance
- Not specified in source
- First Goal
- Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay) at 11 seconds, fastest to start an outdoor game
- Shootout Winner
- Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay)
Lore & Background
The Bruins wore sunshine-gold jerseys with a 'Boston' wordmark and crawling bear logo, while the Lightning debuted pirate-inspired jerseys with a skull-and-crossed-swords shoulder patch and sky blue accents. The game began with Brandon Hagel scoring 11 seconds in, the fastest goal to start an outdoor game. Boston responded with three unanswered first-period goals, then added two more in the second. Tampa Bay rallied with power-play goals, and Nikita Kucherov tied the game at 5 in the third period. The game went to a shootout, the third for an outdoor NHL game and first for the Stadium Series, with Jake Guentzel scoring the only goal in the third round.
Reader's Guide
The 2026 NHL Stadium Series is significant as a showcase of hockey in a non-traditional warm-weather market, continuing the NHL's expansion of outdoor games into Florida. The game tied the record for the highest-scoring outdoor NHL game, set during the 2024 Stadium Series between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. The comeback from a 5–1 deficit marked the largest in outdoor game and Lightning franchise history. The event also highlighted cultural integration, with the Lightning's jerseys referencing Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival and the Bruins' jerseys emphasizing New England regional pride. The broadcast included an alternate NHL in ASL presentation with deaf commentators, reflecting growing inclusivity. The game aired on ESPN, ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu in the U.S., and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
Did You Know?
- Brandon Hagel scored 11 seconds into the game, the fastest goal to start an outdoor NHL game, surpassing Colby Armstrong's 21-second goal in the 2008 Winter Classic.
- The game tied the record for the highest-scoring outdoor NHL game, matching the 2024 Stadium Series game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.
- A portable air conditioned tent was built to construct the rink at Raymond James Stadium, which was removed hours before puck drop.
- The Lightning's jerseys featured a skull-and-crossed-swords shoulder patch inspired by Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival.
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