It's official — outdoor hockey is coming to Florida for the 2026 NHL season. The NHL announced Wednesday that the Tampa Bay Lightning will be going up against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 1 next season at Raymond James Stadium as part of the Stadium Series. This landmark event will be part of a month-long celebration of hockey in Florida, which is set to kick off on Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. The Florida Panthers and New York Rangers will take part in the Discover NHL Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park. It’s a long time coming, but the Panthers and Lightning have represented the Eastern Conference in each of the last five Stanley Cup Finals. Plus, both franchises have asked the NHL to bring an outdoor game — or two, in this case — to the Sunshine State for many years. Now, the league is making it happen. "We couldn’t be more excited for this landmark event to finally arrive for Bolts Nation and the Tampa Bay community," Lightning CEO Steve Griggs said. "This moment has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to see this dream become a reality. I want to thank our incredible partners at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, the Tampa Sports Authority and all of Team Tampa Bay for their tireless efforts and unwavering belief in making the impossible possible. We also express our gratitude to Commissioner Bettman and the NHL for their innovative thinking and for bringing this event to Tampa Bay." MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/sports/nhl/lightning/lightning-outdoor-series-game-raymond-james-stadium-nhl-florida/67-3a642622-428b-48c8-8630-5634ba466854