UPDATE:
The Tampa Bay Lightning lost its preseason opener at Amalie Arena on Tuesday night, 3-2.
The Bolts trailed 3-0 after two periods, but late goals by Brayden Point and Boko Imama cut the deficit to one. Kristers Gudlevskis started in net for the Lightning stopping 21 of 23 shots.
Tampa Bay is back in preseason action on Thursday when they host the Florida Panthers.
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The Lightning are back - sort of.
- Pre-season opener: Tampa Bay vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m., Amalie Arena
- Several Tampa Bay players involved with World Cup of Hockey won't be in lineup tonight
The Bolts open their pre-season schedule tonight at Amalie Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes but fans shouldn't expect to see the exact lineup that made another late-season Stanley Cup run last year.
Tampa Bay stars Steven Stamkos, Ben Bishop, Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman, Ondrej Palat and Jonathan Drouin have all been busy with the World Cup of Hockey, not that they would have played much or at all in an exhibition opener anyway.
But with a depleted lineup, the Lightning are set to get an extended look at some of its younger players and minor leaguers.
A few regulars are expected to skate, including Tyler Johnson, J.T. Brown, Braydon Coburn and Alex Killorn but look for plenty of newcomers.
Lightning 2016 first-round pick Brett Howden also is expected to play.
Tampa Bay made some news off the ice this week, announcing the re-signing of defenseman Nikita Nesterov to a one-year deal.
The puck drops tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The Lightning open the regular season Oct. 13 at Amalie Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.