Professional ice hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens at Benchmark International Arena.
Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Montreal Canadiens at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday, December 31, 2026. It's a New Year's Eve matchup, so if you're looking for a way to spend the afternoon before the night's celebrations kick off, this is a solid option. The Lightning are the main feature here, playing on home ice in Tampa.
It's a standard hockey game: two teams, one rink, and the puck moving fast. The Lightning will be hosting the Canadiens, who are making the trip down from Montreal for this one. Since it's a home game, the crowd should be mostly local, and the atmosphere will likely lean toward the Lightning side of things. If you've been following the season, this is one of those mid-winter matchups that can swing a few points in the standings.
The game is set for the afternoon, from 2 PM to 5 PM, which means you'll be out of the arena and on with your New Year's Eve plans well before the clock strikes midnight. It's a good slot if you want to catch some hockey and still have the whole evening open for dinner or whatever else you've got lined up. If you're coming from across town, keep in mind it's a Thursday, so traffic around the arena might be a bit heavier than usual for a weekday afternoon.
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Benchmark International Arena is at 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602. The game runs from 2 PM to 5 PM on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
