Actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in an intimate shower scene from the HBO Max series 'Heated Rivalry.'
Heated Rivalry (L to R) – Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 104 of Heated Rivalry. Credit: Sabrina Lantos/HBO

Hockey is so hot right now, thanks to “Heated Rivalry.”

The show—about professional hockey players risking it all for love—has taken America by storm. And while it isn’t based on a true story, it’s resonated with real players. The show inspired a non-NHL hockey pro to come out, and star Hudson Williams told Andy Cohen that closeted pro athletes have reached out to him directly, including pro hockey players. The NHL is the only North American professional sports league with no out LGBTQ+ current or former players.

So, before the Tampa Bay Lightning takes on the Boston Bears Bruins next Sunday, we can’t speculate if any players are headed to the cottage. But in the thick of hockey season, anything can happen.

The Raymond James match is one of two outdoor NHL games in Florida this year. But it might be colder than inside games. Forecasts call for a high of 55°F—the low end of the thermostat for Lightning games at Benchmark. Still, it’s rare a chance to see the guys and their sticks out in the sunlight.

Tickets start at $207 for the NHL Stadium Series: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins happening Sunday, Feb 1 in Tampa.

If that seems steep, tickets start around $40-$50 for most regular Lightning games, like Pride night on March 26.

2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – BOS v TBL

Time Sun., Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m.

Location Raymond James Stadium, 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

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Selene San Felice is managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Prior to joining CL in 2025, she started the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter and worked for her hometown paper, The Capital in Annapolis,...