The Tampa Bay Lightning joined the Eastern Conference on 1992. The Bolts play in Amalie Arena in Tampa. The Lightning’s main colors are blue and white. The logo has been updated many times, but the bolt is normally the central point. The won their first Stanley Cup in 2003. Their mascot is a lightning bug named ThunderBug, The Bolts has a heat rivalry in their fellow instate team, Florida Panthers. The Tampa Bay Lightning have many games that implement blackout restrictions. This has led to the frustration of fans as they can’t see them. Fans can watch the Tampa Bay Lightning the entire season and avoid blackouts with a VPN.
How to Use a VPN to Watch the Tampa Bay Lightning
Here’s a quick guide for watching Tampa Bay Lightning games with a VPN.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (30 day risk-free money-back guarantee)
- Install the ExpressVPN browser extension, desktop, or mobile app.
- Launch the ExpressVPN app and select a server in your chosen region. We recommend Canada or Mexico for viewing NHL games to bypass blackout restrictions.
- Cheer on your favorite team through NHL.TV or any of the popular streaming services that broadcast the games.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch the Tampa Bay Lightning
Before we get more in depth as to how to watch Lightning games with a VPN let us tell you more about the benefits of using a VPN for watching sports. Sports often have blackout restrictions for multiple reasons. One is an attempt to encourage more people to go to the game. Another is that the broadcast is only available in certain countries or regions. A VPN can help you out in these situations because it allows you to change your IP address. It does this by allowing you to choose a server location and assigning you an IP address from the region. If you choose a server in an area that the game is watchable, then you will be able to stream it. A VPN also hides your IP address and helps protect your privacy.
The National Hockey League plays games constantly. They are available through NHL.TV streaming service. You can also sign up for Sling TV to gain access through NBC, USA, and NHL Network. Other options include Hulu Live TV and Youtube TV. The services might allow you to view some games when your team is away, but the games that are closer to where you live are likely blackout restricted. Some games are geo-blocked for those from other regions of the world. Connecting to a VPN will help you avoid the blackout restrictions to cheer on your favorite team through every game.
Lightning History and Division Info
The Tampa Bay Lightning joined the NHL with 1992. They have won multiple conference championships since their introduction. As for jerseys, the Lightning have always had the bolt as their logo, but the design has changed. Originally the logo had a grey background behind a white lightning bolt. Their designs have changed over time, but blue and white have always been the most used colors. The Bolts have also made history by having the first female goalie to play in a game. The Tampa Bay Lightning have had many good players like Steve Stamkos, Vaclav Prospal, and Ben Bishop. Their minor league affiliates are Syracuse Crunch (AHL) and Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL).
The Tampa bay Lightning joined during the introductory year of the Atlantic division. They have always competed in their current conference. The Atlantic division is made up of the following teams:
- Lightning vs. Bruins – Dec 4 (A), Jan 8 (H), March 24 (A), April 8 (H)
- Lightning vs. Sabres – Oct 25 (A), Jan 11 (A), April 10 (H)
- Lightning vs. Red Wings – Oct 14 (A), March 4 (H), March 26 (A), April 19 (H)
- Lightning vs. Panthers – Oct 19 (H), Nov 13 (H), Dec 30 (A), Apr 24 (A)
- Lightning vs. Canadiens – Dec 7 (A), Dec 28 (H), April 2 (H)
- Lightning vs. Senators – Nov 6 (A), Dec 11 (A), Dec 16 (H), March 1 (H)
- Lightning vs. Maple Leafs – Nov 4 (A), Dec 9 (A), April 4 (H), April 21 (H)
The Tampa Bay Lightning will play a total of 4 to 5 games against each team in their division during the regular season. The winner of the Atlantic division will be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.
How to Watch Tampa Bay Lightning Games with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our choice for watching sports. They not only let you stream games in high quality but across many devices. PC, Mac, iOS, and Android are some of the easiest devices to set up. All you have to do is download the ExpressVPN app. They even have an app for routers that are compatible. You are also given the ability to use your smart TV, game console, or many other streaming devices through the MediaStreamer. This also comes with detailed guides on how to set it up. MediaStreamer gives you the ability to change your location, but it will not provide the same protection a VPN does. ExpressVPN will help you watch sports across a variety of devices.
ExpressVPN will keep you safe as you watch your favorite sports teams. They will mask your IP address and get around blackout restrictions. The company does not log your activities. We are happy to share with our users an exclusive ExpressVPN discount. This includes access to both the VPN service and MediaStreamer. When you subscribe for a year, you will get 49% off and receive 3 months free. ExpressVPN has a 30 day money back guarantee, so you will be able to test the service and see how it can help unblock sports.