Bolts to kick off 2018-19 season at home vs. the Panthers on Oct. 6

For the second straight season, the Lightning will face their in-state rivals on opening night

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© Scott Audette

By Bryan Burns
@BBurnsNHL TampaBayLightning.com

For the second-consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Lightning will open the regular season on October 6 versus the Florida Panthers at AMALIE Arena.

Today, the NHL announced the season opener for all 31 teams for 2018-19. The Lightning will start the season at home against a familiar foe, the intrastate rival Panthers. Last season, Tampa Bay held off the Panthers 5-3 at AMALIE Arena behind a pair of goals from Ondrej Palat to begin the 2017-18 campaign.
Tampa Bay will open the season against Florida for the third time in the last five seasons.
The Lightning will play a home game to open the season for the fifth year in a row. The Bolts have won four-straight season openers and seven of their last eight.
All-time, Tampa Bay is 16-7-0 with two ties in season openers.

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