Sun Sports TV's complete Lightning broadcast schedule

Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Sun Sports TV announced the 2011-12 broadcast schedule for the Bolts. The team will air on Sun Sports 68 times this season, Paired up with the national exposure through Versus / NBC Sports Net and the NHL Network, the Lightning will have 79 of 82 games televised this season.

The complete schedule and team press release is below the jump.

SUN SPORTS AND THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING UNVEIL 68-GAME TELECAST SCHEDULE

All games scheduled in HD!

Rick Peckham, Bobby "The Chief" Taylor and Paul Kennedy Will Provide Expert Commentary and Analysis

TAMPA BAY – Sun Sports and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have announced the team’s 68-game regional telecast schedule for the 2011-12 season. As the exclusive regional television home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sun Sports will air all 68 match-ups throughout North Florida in HD.

After a wild run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, the Tampa Bay Lightning return much of the 2010-11 team, including veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson and offensive sensation Steven Stamkos. Sun Sports will air the season’s most exciting games, beginning with the season opener at the Carolina Hurricanes on Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The network then travels with the team to Boston as the Bolts take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions on Oct. 8 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Sun Sports will bring viewers two additional matchups with the Bruins as the Lightning look to avenge last year’s playoff loss. The Lightning will host Boston on Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and on March 13 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Sun Sports will air the team’s home opener, an Oct. 17 game vs. the intrastate division rival Florida Panthers at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The network will also televise three high powered matchups versus the Southeast Division Champion Capitals, who the Lightning defeated in four games during last season’s Conference Semifinal. Tampa Bay will travel to Washington on Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m. (ET), the Capitals will come to the St. Pete Times Forum on Feb. 18 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and the Lightning will head back to DC on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

Sun Sports will also air all four regular season matchups vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. The teams will first meet in Tampa on Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The Lightning will host again on Jan. 15 at 1:00 p.m. (ET), before traveling to Pittsburgh on Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and on Feb. 25 at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

Play-by-play announcer Rick Peckham and analyst Bobby "The Chief" Taylor will provide viewers with expert commentary. Lightning rinkside reporter Paul Kennedy will also return. He brings his magnetic personality and host of knowledge to LIGHTNING LIVE, Sun Sports’ pregame show for home games, and extended postgame show for all telecasts.

In addition, Sun Sports will bring fans seven all-new episodes of the popular INSIDE THE LIGHTNING series, designed to provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the team, its players and operations. The TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING PRESEASON SPECIAL will premiere on Sun Sports on Oct. 3 at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

The network’s website, FOXSportsFlorida.com, will consistently engage fans throughout the 2011-12 season with exclusive videos, expert analysis, pre and postgame coverage and photo galleries. Fans will also be able to interact on the network’s Facebook page, Sun Sports / FOX Sports Florida, and Twitter platform, SunSportsFOXFL.

TELECAST SCHEDULE FOLLOWS: