By It smells like new ice in downtown Tampa. And it signals just one thing.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are one step closer to a new season as fresh ice takes shape at Benchmark International Arena. Crews installed the new ice surface, logos, and lines on Saturday, setting the stage for the Bolts’ return to action in September.
The arena is also entering its second season under the Benchmark International Arena name.
The Lightning will play two home and two road preseason games before their home opener on Oct. 3 against the Washington Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin.
The Bolts will get their first chance to try the new layers of ice on Sept. 20 against the Nashville Predators. They will then travel to Tennessee for the Sept. 22 game before returning home on Sept. 24 to face their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers.
By Oct. 1, the Lightning will shift into full regular-season mode for their first game of the season against the New York Rangers.
Then it’s back to Tampa for the Oct. 3 home opener against Washington.
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