No time to party with the pirates when Gasparilla falls on game day

The annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest takes over Tampa on Saturday with a weather-abbreviated Pirate Invasion in the morning followed by the Parade of Pirates up Bayshore Boulevard and into downtown in the afternoon.
The Tampa Bay Lightning also play Saturday night, the Bolts hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at AMALIE Arena, which always makes for a unique experience around the arena and inside once the game starts.
The Lightning, however, haven't ever really gotten a chance to partake in the Gasparilla festivities, mainly because, like tonight, they're usually playing.

Famously, four years ago, the city of Tampa hosted both Gasparilla and the NHL All-Star Game on the same day, the two celebrations co-existing for one unforgettable 24 hours of fun and revelry for Bay Area citizens. For the Lightning players and coaches not participating in the All-Star Game, it was one of the few times they got the full Gasparilla experience rather than it just being a nuisance for their drive to the rink for the game.
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper coached the Atlantic Division in that Tampa All-Star Game and had five of his players - Steven Stamkos, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and the injured Victor Hedman - with him for the 3-on-3 tournament competition. Cooper said he's only had one Gasparilla experience during his time as Tampa Bay's head coach but enjoys the event for the unique vibe it creates around the city as well as the buzz inside the arena on a Gasparilla game night.

"I remember we've had one (Gasparilla experience) since I've been coach and that might have been my first full year," Cooper said. "I think we played Colorado. That was the only time. Other than that, we've either been out of town, maybe one time we didn't have a game, but we've rarely been here for it. It's fun. I'm not sure anybody remembers who wins the game when they leave, but it's a fun time."
Even though he couldn't play in the All-Star Game after suffering a lower-body injury a few days prior, Hedman was the star of that League showcase in Tampa. He donned a full pirate costume along with his good friend Erik Karlsson for their arrival to the arena. Hedman also served as an assistant equipment manager for the Atlantic Division since he wasn't able to suit up and play.
During Saturday's morning skate media availability, Hedman said he couldn't find his pirate hat from the All-Star Game but might bring one to the game tonight. He also said his arrival to the arena in time for tonight's game shouldn't be in jeopardy despite the hoards of parade-goers and closed-off streets that will likely greet a lot of the players as they attempt to make their way to AMALIE Arena.
"Where I live, the bridges are open, which is good," Hedman said. "So that'll help. Probably leave a little bit earlier. Probably can't take the Bayshore route. Go on the Crosstown and see what exits are available and try to get to the arena on time."
As for the game, the Lightning are hoping to sweep the two-game regular season series from the Golden Knights for the first time in four tries. Tampa Bay earned a 4-3 victory in Las Vegas on December 21, the last NHL game before the holiday break. In that contest, the Lightning rallied from a 3-1 deficit to prevail, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Anthony Cirelli scoring back-to-back goals 43 seconds apart to tie the game 3-3 late in the second period despite the Bolts being vastly outplayed for long stretches. Only Andrei Vasilevskiy's heroics in net allowed them to keep the game close and eventually prevail.
Steven Stamkos netted the game-winner midway through the third period for his 65th career game-winning goal, passing Martin St. Louis for most in franchise history.
Assistant coach Derek Lalonde was the Bolts' bench boss for that contest as earlier in the day Cooper was forced to enter the NHL's COVID protocol, the first in what would be a string of COVID-related absences to follow for the Lightning.

"That was probably one of the worst games we played all year," Hedman said about Tampa Bay's previous meeting this season with Vegas. "We got hit by COVID a little bit before that with missing Coop and some of the guys went down with COVID later. We got two points somehow out of that game but relied on Vasy to make some big-time saves. For us, we've just got to go out there and we're playing one of the best teams in the league. We're right up there too. It's going to be a great game on a great day in our community, so we're looking forward to it."
KUCHEROV REMAINS OUT: Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov will miss his second-straight game tonight as he remains in COVID protocol. Kucherov was added to the protocol list on Tuesday and had to sit out Tampa Bay's 3-2 win over New Jersey on Thursday.
Jon Cooper said he hopes to have Kucherov back for the Bolts' final game before the All-Star break when they host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at AMALIE Arena.
But there's no guarantee.
"Hope for Tuesday, but, again, you never know with these situations and what's going to happen, so I can't sit here and say anything definitive for Kucherov," Cooper said.