Below is the news release posted on the Tampa Bay Lightning's website:
Lightning Announce 2009 Preseason Schedule
Tampa Bay, July 7, 2009, 9:00 AM EDT
The Tampa Bay Lightning will play seven preseason games in 2009, including one at the St. Pete Times Forum. Highlights of the schedule include games in non-NHL cities, including Regina, Saskatchewan; Everett, Washington; Loveland, Colorado; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Prices and a ticket on-sale date for the preseason game at the St. Pete Times Forum will be announced at a later time.
The Lightning will open the preseason on Wednesday, September 16 in Dallas against the Stars. From there Tampa Bay will return home to host their Southeast Division Rival Atlanta Thrashers on Friday, September 18. The Lightning will then travel to Regina, Saskatchewan where they will take on the Ottawa Senators at Evraz Place for what will be the first of four games in four days. From Regina they will fly to Everett, Washington to take on the Phoenix Coyotes at the Comcast Arena. Tampa Bay and Phoenix will meet again the next night in Loveland, Colorado at the Budweiser Events Center. On Thursday, September 27 the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba will play host as the Lightning take on the Edmonton Oilers. Tampa Bay's preseason schedule will wrap up Sunday, September 27 when the Lightning travel to Atlanta to take on the Thrashers at Philips Arena.
The 2009 preseason will mark the first time in franchise history the Lightning will play an exhibition game in Regina, Everett, Loveland or Winnipeg as well as the first against the Coyotes or Oilers. It is also the third consecutive year Tampa Bay will meet Dallas during the preseason. The Lightning and Thrashers have not met in the exhibition season since September 19, 2004.
The following is the schedule of games for the Lightning's 2009 preseason:
Date Time Venue Opponent
September 16 8:30 p.m. American Airlines Center; Dallas, TX Dallas
September 18 7:30 p.m. St. Pete Times Forum; Tampa, FL Atlanta
September 21 9 p.m. Evraz Place; Regina, SK Ottawa
September 22 10:30 p.m. Comcast Arena at Everett; Everett, WA Phoenix
September 23 9 p.m. Budweiser Events Center; Loveland, CO Phoenix
September 24 8:30 p.m. MTS Centre; Winnipeg, MB Edmonton
September 27 5 p.m. Philips Arena; Atlanta, GA Atlanta
* All times EST and subject to change
Another note to fans is The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is the coach for the Phoenix Coyotes and comming to Everett!
We need a NHL team to come to Seattle or Portland.
**Thanks Tips for putting us on the map!
I'm so excited that Wayne Gretzky is coaching the Phoenix Coyotes in Everett, Washington, against the Tampa Bay Lightning in an exhibition hockey game.