After a long offseason, hockey is back!
The NHL regular season kicks off Tuesday night featuring some exciting games from some of the the league’s best — and newest — franchises. The Tampa Bay Lightning will raise their second banner in as many years while the Pittsburgh Penguins try to spoil their special night. Later on, two of the league’s newest teams — the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken — will take the ice and start their respective seasons.
Both games will be featured on ESPN, bringing hockey back to the network after quite some time — 2003 to be exact. Some NHL teams had some fun with this, remembering where their franchises were the last time hockey was last broadcasted on ESPN.
The last time #NHLFaceOff was on @espn was in 2003 and…
— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2021
The @Buccaneers had just won their first Super Bowl, and then we went on to win our first Cup 🙂
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 12, 2021
• BIG JEFF CARTER was drafted 11th overall.
• Crosby played his first season with the @oceanicrimouski and Malkin played his first with @metallurgmgn.
• Goalie coach Andy Chiodo appeared in 8 games for the Penguins.
• Ryan Malone was Pittsburgh’s season leader in goals. pic.twitter.com/xjFRcz3hfM
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 12, 2021
we reeeeeally wanted to be part of this but when we looked back in our 2003 folder there was nothing there :/
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 12, 2021
we weren’t even born yet 😳 pic.twitter.com/akYx4oB6Z2
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 12, 2021
The return of the puck to the ice is a celebration for many fans and enthusiasts. Social media is also relishing the beginning of the 2021 NHL regular season. Grammy award-winning artist Justin Bieber helps set the stage for a huge night on the ice for the NHL.
HOCKEY + @ESPN = 🔥
Tune in for more from @justinbieber before the games begin tonight! #NHLFaceOff pic.twitter.com/zODKFABwe4
— NHL (@NHL) October 12, 2021
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lighting (7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN)
The regular season of the NHL kicks off with the Pittsburgh Penguins traveling to Florida to take on the defending champions in the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Penguins will be without star Sidney Crosby who is still rehabbing from wrist surgery. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh sees today as a great day for hockey and hopes to start theor 2021 campaign with a win. Despite them being without their impact player in Crosby, the Penguins received a shout-out from their fellow Pittsburgh team — the Steelers.
Good luck this season, @penguins!#LetsGoPens | #BurghProud pic.twitter.com/SO5P16R7pR
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 12, 2021
The Lightning are coming in looking for a three-peat, which would cement this team’s status as a hockey dynasty. The team knows that their journey starts Tuesday, and this video narrated by Steven Stamkos from the squad’s Twitter account sets the tone for their 2021 campaign — and they also had a little fun courtesy of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare during their morning skate.
A revitalized hunger for more.
Tonight, it begins. pic.twitter.com/gVJRxhqjBU
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 12, 2021
Hey Belly, what day is it? pic.twitter.com/dp5uwpLsaf
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 12, 2021
Tampa Bay also had the tunes to begin their season, having a music performance by multi-platinum recording band All Time Low. The concert was held in the waters where the Hillsborough River meets the Garrison Channel before Tuesday’s contest. They had the Lightning’s Stanely Cup nearby during their performance, as they got the 2021 NHL season off to a rocking start.
.@AllTimeLow knows how to put on a show. #NHLFaceOff | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/MO8qD2M9dJ
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 12, 2021
Before the new season of hockey began, the Lightning were able to relive last season’s championship year one more time with their banner raising ceremony. The moment was in front of a packed Amalie Arena — a much different atmosphere compared to last year when the stadium wasn’t as full due to coronavirus protocols. The fans were ready to shower their team with praise for a great 2020 season and root them on for what hopes to be a successful 2021-2022 campaign.
TO. THE. RAFTERS. pic.twitter.com/9jTYMW350u
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 12, 2021
The second game of ESPN’s doubleheader of opening night NHL action features the league’s two newest franchises. The Seattle Kraken will begin its inaugural season against the Vegas Golden Knights — who are in their fifth season of existence. Both teams are expected to make some noise during the 2021 season despite them being two of the NHL’s youngest franchises. Prior to the game, other Seattle professional sports team’s reached out to the Kraken via social media, wishing them luck on their first season on the ice.
Whole city behind you 💙
Good luck to @SeattleKraken in their first season opener! #SeattleLove | #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/A7fzQT0LsX
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) October 12, 2021
It’s hockey time 🏒
Best of luck to the @SeattleKraken in their inaugural season opener! pic.twitter.com/tKphF2YrWJ
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 12, 2021
The wait is finally over! Best of luck @SeattleKraken fam! pic.twitter.com/vLBjMWXHL4
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) October 12, 2021
The Vegas Golden Knights need to make their mark on this season early, as they have championship or bust aspirations. Maybe they took the term “leave their mark” in a literal sense, as their logo was seen all around Vegas before the game.
We’re taking over town 😎 #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/tyWexwEOFO
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 12, 2021