LIGHTNING ANNOUNCE 2005-06 PRESEASON SCHEDULE

The 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning will play seven preseason games in 2005, including three at the St. Pete Times Forum. Highlights of the schedule include two games each against Southeast Division rivals Carolina and Florida, as well as a 2004 Eastern Conference Semi-Final rematch with the Montreal Canadiens. Prices and the on-sale date for preseason games will be announced at a later time.

The Lightning will open the preseason at Detroit on Monday, Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m.), followed by two more road match-ups with Montreal (Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.) and Carolina (Thursday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.) before the preseason home opener against the Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday, Sept. 24 (7:30 p.m.).

Next the Lightning will play two more home games against the Buffalo Sabres (Sunday, Sept. 25, 5 p.m.) and Hurricanes (Friday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.) before heading to the Office Depot Center to take on inter-state rival Florida in the preseason finale on Oct. 2 (1 p.m.).

The Lightning are scheduled to open their 13th training camp on Monday, September 12 at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. Media day and Day 1 of physicals/testing will take place on the 12th, followed by more testing on the 13th. Practices and scrimmages are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 14th.

Following is the schedule of games for the Lightning's 2005-06 preseason:

Sept. 19 Detroit Joe Louis Arena, 7:30p.m.
Sept. 20 Montreal Bell Centre, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 Carolina RBC Center, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 Florida St. Pete Times Forum 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Buffalo St. Pete Times Forum 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 Carolina St. Pete Times Forum 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Florida Office Depot Center, 1 p.m.