If you've had enough of drinking and parties — or are willing to postpone your lubricated activities until later in the evening — then head out for a fun time in support of two Tampa Bay non-losing sports franchises. The Tampa Bay Rowdies plays its final home game against the Minnesota tonight at 7:30 p.m. and Al Lang Stadium, and the Lightning shred ice against the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m.
Currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak at home, the Rowdies have not beaten United in a regular season match at Al Lang Stadium since June 2012.
Much is at stake with the Rowdies battling for a spot in November’s NASL Soccer Bowl. This season's historical moments have included a U.S. Open Cup victory over the Seattle Sounders, the 100th match for Takuya Yamada and the return of one of the bitterest rivals in U.S. Soccer with the standing-room only crowd against the New York Cosmos.
After the Cosmos win over San Antonio last Saturday night, the Rowdies were officially eliminated from the Fall Season title race. The following day, Tampa Bay played their last away match of the season, losing 2-1 to FC Edmonton. Defeat notwithstanding, the Rowdies maintain a second place standing with a better goal differential than the RailHawks.
Midfielder Luke Mulholland has been on a streak, having dispatched three goals in his last three matches bringing his season total to 10. Forward Georgi Hristov has not played since his first-half injury against the Cosmos on Sept. 29, but he is only one goal behind the NASL’s leading goal scorer Brian Shriver who has 13 goals. Three points are needed to finish off the 2013 season on the right footing.
Discounted $10 general admission tickets will be available only through the Rowdies Front Office at 813-287-1539. The box office at the stadium opens at 4:30 p.m. To order 2014 season tickets, fans can e-mail tickets@rowdiessoccer.com or call 813-287-1539. The match can be seen live online via NASL on Ustream.
The Lightning are back home tonight at the Tampa Bay Times Forum after going 2-1-0 on their three-game road trip, gearing up for a 10th win tonight against the St. Louis Blues. Tonight's game will be the first of two games between the Blues and Bolts.
Both the Blues and Lightning played last night and shut out their opponents. Last night, the Lightning finished their three-game road trip on a high note, shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 at PNC Arena. Ben Bishop made 31 saves for his fourth career shutout. After only executing three shots on goal in the first period, the Bolts fired a season-high 16 shots on Justin Peters in the second period.
Steven Stamkos, the NHL's First Star of the Week — named on Monday for the period ending Oct. 27 — scored three goals with four assists last week in three Lightning victories. He has scored in three straight games, tying Martin St. Louis for the longest scoring streak this season, ranking first in the NHL with 13 home points, second (tie) for goals with 10 and second (tie) in the league for points with 20. Bolts' goalie Ben Bishop made his Lightning debut against Carolina on April 4, and the team's goaltending duo of Bishop (6-foot-7) and Anders Lindback (6-foot-6) is the tallest in the NHL. Called the "ageless wonder," Martin St. Louis has recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) over his past 12 games.
Coach Jon Cooper made his NHL head coaching debut with the Lightning on March 29 in a 5-4 shootout victory at a home game against the New Jersey Devils. He led the Lightning to a record of 5-8-3 over their final 16 games of the 2012-13 season after replacing Guy Boucher. Click here for more Lightning games.
Tickets for tonight's Bolts game can be purchased by clicking here.
This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2013.