Tampa Bay Lightning announce 2021 season schedule

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Wednesday their 2021 regular-season schedule.

The schedule features 56 games with the opener on Jan. 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The season will wrap up on May 8 with the Florida Panthers.

As part of the NHL’s return to play protocols, the Lightning have been assigned to the league’s re-aligned, eight-team Central Division. Tampa Bay will play each divisional opponent eight times and will not compete against other divisions during the regular season.

Other teams in that division include the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators. Detroit and Florida are the only other teams from the Atlantic Division to also be moved to the Central through re-alignment during return to play.

The Lightning will play an even split 28 home and away games.

Below is the full 2021 season schedule:

Date	Opponent
Jan. 13	Chicago
Jan. 15	Chicago
Jan. 17	Dallas
Jan. 19	Dallas
Jan. 21	@ Columbus
Jan. 23	@ Columbus
Jan. 26	@ Carolina
Jan. 28	@ Carolina
Jan. 30	Nashville
Feb. 1	Nashville
Feb. 3	Detroit
Feb. 5	Detroit
Feb. 8	@ Nashville
Feb. 9	@ Nashville
Feb. 11	@ Florida
Feb. 13	@ Florida
Feb. 16	Florida
Feb. 18	@ Dallas
Feb. 20	@ Dallas
Feb. 22	Carolina
Feb. 25	Carolina
Feb. 27	Dallas
March 1	Dallas
March 4	@ Chicago
March 5	@ Chicago
March 7	@ Chicago
March 9	@ Detroit
March 11	@ Detroit
March 13	Nashville
March 15	Nashville
March 18	Chicago
March 20	Chicago
March 23	@ Dallas
March 25	@ Dallas
March 27	@ Carolina
March 28	@ Carolina
March 30	Columbus
April 1	Columbus
April 3	Detroit
April 4	Detroit
April 6	@ Columbus
April 8	@ Columbus
April 10	@ Nashville
April 12	@ Nashville
April 15	Florida
April 17	Florida
April 19	Carolina
April 20	Carolina
April 22	Columbus
April 25	Columbus
April 27	@ Chicago
May 1	@ Detroit
May 2	@ Detroit
May 4	Florida
May 6	@ Florida
May 8	@ Florida