Tampa Bay Lightning announce 2017-2018 regular season schedule

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced their 82-game regular season schedule. It is the 25th anniversary of the franchise (is this why Tampa got the All-Star Game? Maybe?) — and the All-Star game will take place the weekend of January 27, 28, and 29, also known as Gasparilla.

Here are a few interesting things to note about the schedule:

• As usual, Tampa plays the Metro three times, and the Atlantic four or five times each.
• Tampa plays Western Conference teams twice each.
• Bolts meet the newest NHL team on December 19, and face Jason Garrison in his new uniform.
• Jason Garrison returns to Amalie January 18.
• Bolts face Jonathan Drouin at Amalie Arena on December 28.
• There is only one back-to-back away game where we have to cross the border.
• Bolts meet the repeat Stanley Cup Champion Penguins on October 12 at Amalie./

Here is more information from the press release:

On the Road

The Lightning will partake in seven road trips that are three games or more. Their longest road stretch is from January 20 through February 5, however it is broken up by the NHL All-Star Weekend. Their longest continuous road trip will be four games, which occurs five times. The Lightning’s busiest month on the road will be January, which sees the team playing nine of their 12 games away from Tampa Bay.

Back-to-Back

The Bolts will play 13 back-to-back games in 2017-18, including two in which both games will be hosted at AMALIE Arena. The Lightning will play a total of eight times with both back-to-back scenarios being played on the road and three times with the contests being split home and away.

Per the press release, “Single game tickets will go on sale at a later date.”