The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently navigating a pivotal week that marks the transition from the high-energy Stadium Series into the extended Olympic Break. Here are the key storylines and their upcoming schedule for the week of Feb. 2-9, 2026.
The Stadium Series Aftermath
The biggest news this week is the Lightning’s recovery from yesterday’s 2026 NHL Stadium Series shootout win against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium. Highlights include the second goalie fight of the NHL season, this time between Jeremy Swayman and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Hosting an outdoor game in Tampa was a marquee event for the franchise, but the focus now shifts rapidly to “business as usual” for two final games before the league pauses.
The Impending Olympic Break
This is the final week of NHL action before the league shuts down for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Lightning will play their final game on Thursday, Feb. 5, after which players selected for their national teams will head to Milan. The rest of the roster will have nearly three weeks off to recover for the playoff push.
Defensive Depth
A major narrative throughout the 2025-26 season has been the health of the blue line.
Darren Raddysh has been a revelation, stepping up with career-high offensive numbers to fill the void.
J.J. Moser (acquired in the Mikhail Sergachev trade) has solidified himself as a top-pairing anchor, with reports noting his pairing with Raddysh has been one of the most effective in the league during 5-on-5 play.
Standings Watch
The Lightning sit at the top of the Eastern Conference, tied with the Carolina Hurricanes with 74 points. With the Atlantic Division tightly packed, banking points against division rivals like the Florida Panthers (this Thursday) and Buffalo Sabres is critical to maintaining playoff positioning before the break.
Lightning Schedule Feb. 2 – 9
DateDayOpponentTime (EST)VenueNotesFeb. 3TueBuffalo Sabres7:30 PMHomeCrucial Atlantic Div. matchupFeb. 5ThuFlorida Panthers7:30 PMHomeLast game before Olympic BreakFeb. 6FriNo Game––Olympic Break Begins
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