Just one month after the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida, it’s time for the second.
Tonight, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for the 2026 Stadium Series.
While initially, it was projected that temperatures would hover around 70 degrees in the hours leading up to puck drop, it’s going to be colder than expected with temperatures dropping into the high 30 degree range. To ensure the ice would remain frozen in the days leading up to the game, the NHL employed a climate controlled tent to maintain the ice’s integrity.
2026 NHL Stadium Series: what to know
- Who: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- When: Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
- Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: Sling TV (try a 1-day pass)
The Bruins have played in five previous outdoor games, most recently in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. They are 4-1 outdoors.
Tonight’s is the Lightning’s second game on the outdoor rink. They won their first, the 2022 Stadium Series in Nashville against the Predators.
2026 NHL Stadium Series start time
Puck drop at the 2026 NHL Winter Classic is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET tonight, Jan. 2.
How to watch the Bruins-Lightning Stadium Series
You’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Stadium Series if you don’t have cable.
If you aren’t ready to commit to a full-on subscription and just want to tune into today’s game, you can try a Sling TV Orange Day Pass. Priced at $4.99, you’ll get 24 hours of access to all Sling TV Orange has to offer, including ESPN. Sling also offers weekend and week-long passes for its Orange plan, which offer between three and seven days of access.
Where is the 2026 NHL Stadium Series?
The Bruins and Lightning will hit the ice on the field of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The stadium is the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2025-26 NHL Season key dates
- Feb. 1: Stadium Series (Lightning vs. Bruins)
- Feb. 6-24: Olympic Break
- Feb. 22: Olympic Men’s gold medal game
- March 6: Trade deadline
- April 16: Regular season ends
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.