Lightning To Unveil Stanley Cup Banner Ahead Of NHL Playoffs

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Mayor Jane Castor will join Tampa Bay Lightning representative Jay Feaster, ThunderBug and fans to drop a giant "Go Bolts" banner on the side of the Tampa Municipal Office building and cheer on the defending Stanley Cup champions as they head back to the NHL playoffs.

The unveiling of the "Go Bolts' banner will take place Friday at 3 p.m. outside City Hall where it will hang throughout the Lightning's quest to defend their championship.

After clinching the Stanley Cup Championship last fall, the Lightning will battle to retain possession of the title and the cup on Sept. 28 over Dallas.

1st All-Black Starting Lineup

The Lightning also made history on Monday night when head coach Jon Cooper started three Black forwards during their final regular-season game against the Florida Panthers. Daniel Walcott, Mathieu Joseph and Gemel Smith kicked off the game together at the center and wing spots.

Although commentators called it a historic moment, Cooper said the three players kicked off the game due to their abilities, not their race.

"First of all, they're all in the NHL for a reason," Cooper told ESPN. "They deserve to be here and have worked their tails off. To have them all together, they had a little chemistry. Moving forward in the league, you hope it isn't a story anymore and will be the norm. It was a pretty cool moment for all those guys."

Less than 5 percent of NHL players are Black or other minorities.

Walcott said he hopes Black kids interested in hockey find inspiration in moments like Monday's game.

"To get into that starting lineup was great," he said. "Coop did something really special here to promote this for young kids."

Feaster was the Lightning general manager when the team won the Stanley Cup in 2003–04 and is now executive director of community hockey development where he's in charge of the Lightning's youth hockey program.

On Oct. 25, 2017, the Lightning announced plans to build 10 outdoor ball hockey rinks across the five-county footprint of Tampa Bay by the year 2020. Plans included a centralized Lightning Made Training Center in Tampa and outdoor rinks in Pinellas Park, Oldsmar, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Center and Wesley Chapel District Park in Pasco County, Seminole Heights, Jeff & Penny Vinik Family Club at Winston Park and Rowlett Park in Tampa, Lakewood Ranch, Lakeland, Ruskin and Brandon.

These new rinks are designed to bring the game into local communities, allowing Tampa Bay's new young hockey players a place to train, whether it is at the grassroots level or in organized leagues and tournaments.

Playoff Schedule

On Thursday, the NHL released the schedule for the first round of the playoffs, which gets underway Sunday when the Bolts face the Florida Panthers.

• Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, BB&T Arena, Sunday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
• Game 2: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, BB&T Arena, Tuesday, May 18 at 8 p.m. (CNBC)
• Game 3: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning, Amalie Arena, Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. (USA)
• Game 4: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning, Amalie Arena, Saturday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m. (CNBC)
• Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, BB&T Arena, Monday, May 24, TBD
• Game 6: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning, Amalie Arena, Wednesday, May 26, TBD
• Game 7: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, BB&T Arena, Friday, May 28, TBD

Pep Rally Saturday

The Lightning, along with AdventHealth, will host a 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bolts Drive-Thru Pep Rally outside of Westshore Plaza in South Tampa on Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. The pep rally will take place in the Sears parking lot area at Westshore Plaza.

Fans can pick up Lightning playoff yard signs, promotional items and other Lightning partner giveaways. Dunkin’ will provide free pre-packaged donuts for the first 1,000 cars plus co-branded rally towels.

Also on hand will be Florida Blue, Florida Aquarium, iHeart Radio and the TampaZoo at Lowry Park.

See related stories:

• Tampa Bay Lightning Claims 2020 Stanley Cup
• Stanley Cup Back In Tampa Bay; Tampa Celebrates With Boat Parade