Earlier this month, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the National Hockey League were forced to put the 2019-2020 season on… err, ice. Now, the team is streaming simulated games to help fans pass time until they can return to Amalie Arena.
Each game starts at 7 p.m. and can be found on Bolts Gaming’s official Twitch channel. Tonight, the virtual team is going up against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The simulated games are also being used to raise money for real-world problems. According to a tweet from the team’s official page, donations raised during the simulated games will go toward local charities that are helping with COVID-19 relief.
The simulations are generated by NHL 20, a video game from EA Sports that lets fans join their favorite teams on the ice. When the gamer’s character isn’t in a match, the video game uses simulations to move the season forward.
If virtual games aren’t your thing, NHL.tv and Fox Sports Sun have been airing reruns of old Lightning wins.
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This article appears in Mar 19-26, 2020.