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The Boston Bruins were hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, not in the usual Amalie Arena fashion on Sunday night, but rather at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
So, before hitting the outfield ice on a bitterly cold night in Tampa, the Lightning players were spotted exiting the bus wearing retro “Creamsicle” Bucs uniforms.
Pads, helmets and all.
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Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning wear the cream Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys and are joined by Tristan Wirfs as they travel to the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Mark LoMoglio/NHLI)
Fans cheered as the players, all with their numbers and last names on the back of bright orange jerseys, headed into the stadium for their matchup against the Bruins.
It was very different from the usual blue, black and white jerseys that Lightning players are accustomed to, but these retro jerseys are a staple in the Tampa area. The Bucs still wear them today on occasion, although it once meant defeat when the franchise began in 1976.
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The Bucs were an expansion team and they turned heads with their choice of uniform colors. However, they went a whopping 0-26 before finally coming away with a win in their second season.
And it wasn’t just the Lightning players the fans were cheering for. Leading the pack were Bucs stars quarterback Baker Mayfield and left tackle Tristan Wirfs, leading the way while wearing the true blue sweaters the hockey team would wear on the ice at Raymond James Stadium.
Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning arrives before the 2026 NHL Stadium Series against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Bruins also had a football theme given that fellow NFL player New England is heading to the Super Bowl in a week.
With the Patriots returning to the “Big Game,” the Bruins showed up in full Patriots gear, looking like our founding fathers as they got off the bus.
While the NHL and its teams are having fun with this Stadium Series game, these two teams are coming into the competition on fire.
The Bruins and Lightning each have an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games, and the Lightning have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 34-14-4. The Bruins aren’t far behind, however, with a 32-20-3 record.
David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins arrives dressed as a Colonial Patriot before the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Brian Babineau/NHLI)
Finally, outdoor hockey in Florida is generally conducive, but the NHL will actually need a heater to get the ice to the right temperature since it’s an unseasonable 40 degrees Sunday night.
