City Of Tampa, Fans Cheer On Bolts As NHL Playoffs Get Underway

TAMPA, FL — To root on the Tampa Bay Lightning as the team heads into the National Hockey League playoffs this week in the hopes of winning the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive time, Tampa Mayor Janet Castor, former Lightning player Brian Bradley, Lightning mascot Thunder Bug, and the Blue Crew street team raised the giant "Go Bolts" banner on the side of the Tampa Municipal Building in downtown Tampa.

The Lightning went on to win 6-4 against the Islanders Friday night, the last regular game of the season, ending the season with a 2-1-1 record in the Atlantic Division.

This is the first time the Lightning will face the Maple Leafs in postseason play.

To kick off the playoffs and cheer on the Lightning during the team's first game Monday, the team will host its official watch party presented by Bud Light at Sparkman Wharf in downtown Tampa.

The first playoffs game against the Maple Leafs starts at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The watch party at Sparkman Wharf will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and will feature live entertainment, appearances by ThunderBug and other Lightning personalities, giveaways and concession specials.

A second away game against the Maple Leafs will take place Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., and the official watch party will again take place at Sparkman Wharf.

The city of Tampa will get fans into the playoffs spirit by lighting up the Old City Hall, downtown bridges and the Tampa Riverwalk in vivid Lightning blue.

See related story: Lightning Celebrates Back-To-Back Stanley Cup Wins At White House

Throughout Tampa Bay, Lightning flags and magnetic stickers have been affixed to vehicles while businesses ranging from bars to banks are hoisting Lightning flags and displaying banners to rally fans for the 2022 championship run.

The team is also asking fans to lend their lucky jerseys, keychains, hats and pucks to the Lightning. The good luck charms will accompany Steven Stamkos, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman and the rest of the hockey team as they travel in the playoffs.

The lucky charms will also be displayed in Amalie Arena, home of the Lightning, and online. They will then be returned to their owners after the playoffs.

Among those who have already shared their lucky charms are Castor, who shared her Tampa police badge; James Sugrue, who shared his Steven Stamkos stuffed doll; Sky Roberts, who has loaned the Lightning her Build-A-Bear Baby Yoda wearing a Lightning jersey; the Stanton family, who contributed their Lightning tikis to the cause; the Careggio family, who are sharing their Lightning teddy bear; and Lauren McLaren, who has offered her Anthony Cirelli lucky puck.

Bradley and the Rolling Thunder will make appearances throughout the playoffs, giving out Lightning swag from the Rolling Thunder truck and trailer.

Bradley, who lives in Tampa, has been named Lightning community ambassador.

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Bradley made his NHL debut in 1985 with the Calgary Flames, then played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs before landing in Tampa in 1992 following the NHL Expansion Draft in which the Lightning was founded.

The Lightning's first All-Star player in 1993-1994, Bradley scored 182 goals and tallied 312 assists during his career for a total of 503 points. Bradley currently serves as a community ambassador for the team.

Here are the other Lightning games in the first round playoff schedule:

• Friday, May 6 — Lightning vs. Maple Leafs in Tampa at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 8 — Lightning vs. Maple Leafs in Tampa at 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 10 — Maple Leafs vs. Lightning in Toronto at noon.
• Thursday, May 12 — Lightning vs. Maple Leafs in Tampa at noon.
• Saturday, May 14 — Maple Leafs vs. Lightning in Toronto at noon.

The team that wins four out of seven games will qualify for the second week of the playoffs.