Everything you need to know ahead of the Lightning's matchup against the Washington Capitals on Saturday:
When: Saturday, October 3 - 7 p.m. ET
Where: Benchmark International Arena - Tampa, FL
TV coverage: The Spot - Tampa Bay 66 (check local listings); Pregame show begins at 6 p.m. ET
Radio coverage: 102.5 MHz-FM, Lightning Radio 24/7
Stream: TampaBayLightning.com/StreamNow
Lines from Thursday's game (subject to change)
Forwards
Ilya Mikheyev -Brayden Point- Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Jake Guentzel
Jeff Viel- Zemgus Girgensons - Pontus Holmberg
Conor Geekie - Jansen Harkins - Gage Goncalves
Defensemen
JJ Moser - John Carlson
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Victor Hedman - Charle-Eduord D'Astous
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Dennis Hildeby
Saturday's Matchup
The Tampa Bay Lightning make their return to Benchmark International Arena for the first home game of the 2026-27 season on Saturday versus the Washington Capitals...Tampa Bay is 52-78-16 against Washington all-time, a record that includes a 2-0-1 run last season...Brandon Hagel led the Bolts offensively versus the Capitals in 2025-26 with 3-3—6 in three games, while Jake Guentzel (2- 2—4) and Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4) each had four points...Martin St. Louis is the franchise’s career scoring leader vs. WSH with 29-50—79 in 72 games, and Kucherov leads active Bolts with 15-19—34 in 34 games...Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy went 1-0-1 with a .931 save percentage against the Capitals last season, while Jonas Johansson went 1-0-0 with a .906 save percentage...Vasilevskiy holds a 12-11-2 career record against the Capitals with a .906 career save percentage..Goalie Dennis Hildeby is 0-1-0 with an .862 career save percentage against Washington.
Player Blue Carpet Walk, 3:45-4:30 pm
As is tradition, the Bolts will arrive to Saturday’s home opener premiere-style, turning Ford Thunder Alley into a temporary episode of Entourage. There will be star athletes, finely tailored suits and more than enough room to catch an up-close-and-personal glimpse at this year’s team.
Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game
Ice Palace 30th Anniversary Puck and Tee
The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their home arena, the Ice Palace, and you can commemorate the celebration with a 30th Anniversary collectors puck and tee. Available in store at Benchmark International Arena and online at TampaBaySports.com, while supplies last.
The Road Ahead
Monday, October 5 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Thursday, October 8 vs. Minnesota Wild
Saturday, October 10 at New York Islanders
