The Tampa Bay Lightning are returning to Orlando this month to host the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers in an NHL preseason game.
The action will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, at the Kia Center located at 400 W Church Street in downtown Orlando. Doors open at 6 p.m.
This will mark the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 11th overall appearance in Orlando and seventh exhibition game at the Kia Center, which is the home of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears and the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning back to the Kia Center for their preseason contest against the Florida Panthers on September 30,” said Solar Bears President Chris Heller. “We thank Julien BriseBois and the Lightning staff for being terrific partners and look forward to another fantastic experience hosting an NHL game.”
The Lightning’s most recent game at the Kia Center was held on September 25, 2024, and it came down to the final seconds. Tampa Bay secured an 8-7 victory over the Florida Panthers on a goal by Connor Geekie, and Solar Bears alumnus Jaydon Dureau tallied three assists in the game for the Lightning.
The Solar Bears have been the ECHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning since the start of the 2018-19 season. Since that affiliation began, a total of 42 players have appeared for both the Solar Bears and the Syracuse Crunch, which is Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
Prior to that, the Lightning held ECHL affiliations with the Adirondack Thunder for the 2017-18 season, the Kalamazoo Wings for 2016-17, and the Florida Everblades from 2010-2013.
The Lightning’s first ECHL affiliate was the Louisville Icehawks during Tampa Bay’s inaugural NHL season in 1992-93.
For more information on the upcoming game in Orlando, or to purchase tickets, visit the Kia Center’s Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers event webpage.