The last time the Avalanche visited Amalie Area in Tampa, the team walked out of the building with the Stanley Cup in hand.
The Avs and Lightning meet on Thursday night for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Colorado defeated Tampa Bay 2-1 in Game 6 to take the series 4-2 and win the franchise's first championship since 2000.
This year, neither team has been dominant, but both are in a position to get back to the finals. The Lightning are in third place in the Atlantic Division with 66 points. Nikita Kucherov has been stellar for Tampa Bay, with 75 points in just 50 games. He is third in the league in points and his 55 assists are the most.
MORE: Watch the 2022-23 NHL season on fuboTV (U.S. only)
It has not been as easy of a road for the Avalanche. The Avs are third in the Central Division behind the Stars and the Jets. Injuries have been a big part of their season, with Gabriel Landeskog not yet making his season debut. Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Bowen Byram and Josh Manson are among those that have missed chunks of time.
Mikko Rantanen has picked up the slack with some of the other stars out with injuries. He has 34 goals and 61 in 49 contests, ranking in the top five in the league in goals.
Here is everything you need to know to watch the Avalanche vs. Lightning national TV game.
What time is Avalanche vs. Lightning?
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 9
- Location: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.
The puck drop for the Avalanche and Lightning game is set for 7 p.m. ET. The game will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.
What channel is Avalanche vs. Lightning on?
- TV channel: ESPN (U.S.)
ESPN will be home to the Avalanche vs. Lightning game on Thursday night.
Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro and Emily Kaplan are the ESPN crew on the call for the game.
How to stream Avalanche vs. Lightning
- ESPN+, fubo TV, Sling
- ESPN.com/ESPN App
Fans can watch Avalanche vs. Lightning on NHL Power Play on ESPN+, the ESPN app and ESPN's website with a cable subscription.
By signing up for fuboTV (which offers a free trial), Sling TV or DirecTV Stream, U.S. viewers will have streaming access to all ESPN games.
