Lightning Players Gear Up in Buccaneers Uniforms and Receive Mysterious Baker Mayfield Escort Before Tampa Stadium Series – What’s Behind the Unexpected Showdown?

On a crisp Sunday night in Tampa, something wildly unexpected unfolded at Raymond James Stadium — yes, the NFL home of the Buccaneers transformed into a frosty battleground for the NHL’s Stadium Series. Instead of the familiar roar inside Amalie Arena, the Boston Bruins faced off with the Tampa Bay Lightning under the open sky, but before the puck even dropped, fans got a nostalgic treat. The Lightning skated into view donning the iconic throwback “Creamsicle” Buccaneers jerseys — bright orange, pads, helmets, and all — an homage that bridges football’s gritty past with hockey’s present. No doubt, this spectacle had the crowd buzzing: Lightning in football garb, Bucs stars leading the charge on ice, and Bruins decked out in New England Patriots-inspired outfits, nodding to their NFL rivals gearing up for the Super Bowl. Both teams entered the rink red hot, each boasting impressively strong recent records, making for not just a visually striking but fiercely competitive clash on the chilly Florida night. You really don’t see hockey and football mingle quite like this — it’s a showdown loaded with heritage, flair, and serious skill. LEARN MORE.

The Boston Bruins were being hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning not in the usual Amalie Arena way on Sunday night, but rather at Raymond James Stadium — home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So, before they hit the outdoor ice on a very chilly Tampa night, the Lightning players were spotted coming off the bus wearing throwback “Creamsicle” Bucs uniforms.

Pads, helmets and all.

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Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning dress in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers creamsicle jerseys and are joined by Tristan Wirfs as they travel to the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series game against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.  (Mark LoMoglio/NHLI)

Fans were cheering as the players, all with their numbers and last names on the back of the bright orange jerseys, made their way into the stadium for their clash with the Bruins.

It was a lot different than the regular blue, black and white jerseys the Lightning players are used to, but these throwback jerseys are a staple in the Tampa area. The Bucs still wear them today on occasion, though it used to be synonymous with losing when the franchise first began in 1976.

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The Bucs were an expansion team, and they turned heads with their uniform color choice. However, they went a whopping 0-26 in them before finally coming away with a win in their second season.

And it wasn’t just the Lightning players the fans were cheering for. At the head of the pack were Bucs stars, quarterback Baker Mayfield and left tackle Tristan Wirfs, leading the way while wearing the actual blue sweater the hockey team would don on the ice at Raymond James Stadium.

Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning arrives prior to the 2026 NHL Stadium Series against the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the Bruins also had a football theme considering their fellow NFL team in New England is going to the Super Bowl in a week.

With the Patriots back in the “Big Game,” the Bruins showed up in full Patriots outfits, looking like our founding fathers as they got off the bus.

While the NHL and its teams are having fun with this Stadium Series game, both of these squads are coming into the contest on fire.

The Bruins and Lightning each own an 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games, and the Lightning own the Eastern Conference’s best record at 34-14-4. The Bruins are not too far behind, though, at 32-20-3.

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins arrives dressed as a Colonial Patriot before the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Brian Babineau/NHLI)

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Finally, hockey outdoors in Florida is usually conducive, but the NHL will actually need a heater to get the ice to the proper temperature as it’s an uncharacteristic 40 degrees on Sunday night.

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