The Lightning and Sun Sports are continuing what they started in October, airing “Classic” Lightning games on Thursday nights at 8 PM. The first broadcast was the original game in Tampa Bay Lightning history (October 7th, 1992). Game two was a telecast from November 15th, 2002 where Dave Andreychuk set the record for career power play goals.
November’s slate of games is due to have the grander urgency of playoff hockey, with Stanley Cup Playoff games from 2003 and 2004 – including Stanley Cup Finals games 6 and 7 against the Calgary Flames.
While the plan seems to be to continue to make these classic broadcasts available, I asked a Lightning spokesman if the Bolts would have Sun Sports televise any of the Syracuse Crunch games to make up for the lack of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey at current.
Of course, there is fresh hockey being played further north that should pique Lightning fans interest, that being the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. When asked if the Lightning had talked with Sun Sports about picking up broadcasts of the club’s top farm team, Lightning spokesman Brian Breseman said that, “It has not been discussed at this time.”
The full press release of the Tampa Bay Lightning classics broadcast schedule is below.
LIGHTNING, SUN SPORTS TO AIR CLASSIC GAMES EACH THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER
Lightning’s First Playoff Series Victory to Air at 8 p.m. on November 1
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that Sun Sports will air a classic Lightning game each Thursday night at 8 p.m. during the month of November. Sun Sports will continue to air classic Lightning games on Thursday nights throughout the year.
This Thursday at 8 p.m., Sun Sports will air the Lightning’s first playoff series victory over the Washington Capitals on April 20, 2003. Martin St. Louis scored his fifth goal of the series while on a power play in triple overtime to win the best-of-seven series. The Lightning dropped the first two games of the series but then battled back to win four consecutive contests to advance into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Other games featured this month include the Lightning’s Game 7 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Final in 2004, St. Louis’ thrilling Game 6 double overtime goal in Calgary in the Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning defeating the Flames in Game 7 on home ice to capture their first-ever championship and the Stanley Cup banner raising to begin the 2005-06 season.
Please see below for a full listing of games during November which will all air at 8 p.m.:
Date Classic Game Network
Thursday, November 1 First Lightning playoff series win, Game 6 at Washington Sun Sports
Thursday, November 8 Lightning defeat the Flyers in Game 7 to advance to Stanley Cup Sun Sports
Thursday, November 15 Martin St. Louis’ double overtime goal in Game 6 against Calgary Sun Sports
Thursday, November 22 Lightning defeat the Flames in Game 7 to win Stanley Cup Sun Sports
Thursday, November 29 Lightning raise Stanley Cup banner to begin 2005-06 season Sun Sports
