DIRK SHADD | Times
Kaiden Shouse, 4, of Plant City, looks out at the crowd as the doors for fan on opening night before the Tampa Bay Lightning take on Florida Panthers at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. Kaiden's father, Steve Shouse, said they plan to attend many more games this season since Kaiden's older sister, Ellie Shouse, is a new Lightning Girl.
WELCOME BACK, HOCKEY!
After missing the playoffs in an injury-plagued 2016-17 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning was back on the ice Friday in its regular-season opener at Amalie Arena. Here's what it looked like, through the lenses of Tampa Bay Times photographers.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) steps onto the ice before the start of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Will Curley, 51, gets a photo with his niece Cheyenne Robinson, 21, with the Phil Esposito statue on Thunder Alley before the game.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn (55) and his teammates at center ice before the start of the season opener.
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DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Lightning fan Connie Bias, of Bartow, displays her allegiance before the game against the Florida Panthers.
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DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Florida Panthers center Derek MacKenzie (17), left, and Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) visit with Phil Esposito moments after the ceremonial puck drop Friday.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) shoots past Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (1) during the first period of the game.
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DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) and defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrate Palat’s first period goal against the Panthers on Friday.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) stretches for the power play save during the first period of the game.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Steven Stamkos (91) challenges Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson (19) for the puck during the first period of the game.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) looks to make a pass from the boards to right wing Nikita Kucherov (86).
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) tangles with Florida Panthers defenseman Mark Pysyk (13) while on the attack during the first period of the game.
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DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98), left, and Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) work to stop Florida Panthers center Colton Sceviour (7) during the first period of Friday's season opener.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Sticks come up and shoving ensues after a series of late hits after the whistle to end the second period of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Florida Panthers celebrate as Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) looks on during the second period.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) reacts after scoring during the third period.
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DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save while on the penalty kill with 1:20 left in the third period.
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DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates his third-period goal, followed by Lightning center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) and center Steven Stamkos (91) during Friday's season opener with the Florida Panthers. The final score: Lightning 5, Panthers 3.
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Contact Dirk Shadd at [email protected]. Follow @DirkShadd.
Contact Douglas R. Clifford at [email protected]. Follow @cliftimestweet.