NHL ANNOUNCES 2011-12 NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE

Bolts Get 21 National Exposures

 TAMPA BAY – The NHL today announced its national television schedule for the 2011-12 season.  The schedule features a Tampa Bay Lightning franchise record 21 games televised in the United States on both VERSUS and NHL Network.  Tampa Bay will also have five games televised nationally in Canada on CBC and TSN.

 Of a team-record 11 games on VERSUS, five of them will be played at the St. Pete Times Forum and six will be played on the road.  Highlights include three of the six games played this season between the Lightning and division-rival Washington Capitals, including the Bolts’ first appearance at the Verizon Center since last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinal.  VERSUS will also air two of the four games Tampa Bay will play against the Philadelphia Flyers, including the first meeting, November 9 at the Times Forum.  Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman’s first return to Detroit since joining Tampa Bay will air on November 30.

 NHL Network in the United States will pick up local broadcasts of five Lightning home games and five road games.  Of those included are the Lightning’s return to Boston for the first time since Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Final on October 8, as well as the first meeting between the Bolts and Pittsburgh Penguins since the Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal on November 17.  The NHL Network will also air two meetings between the Lightning and Capitals, meaning five of the teams’ six meetings will air nationally.

 In Canada, CBC will air four games, including the Lightning’s first game against the newly-relocated Winnipeg Jets on October 29 at the Times Forum.  TSN will also air one game when the Bolts visit the Bell Centre in Montreal on April 4.

 The Lightning open up their home preseason schedule on Wednesday, September 21 against the St. Louis Blues at the Amway Center in Orlando and play their only game at the St. Pete Times Forum on Friday, September 23 against the Florida Panthers.  Tickets to both games are on sale now.  For more information visit www.tampabaylightning.com.