Sun Sports and the Tampa Bay Lightning jointly announced Tuesday the team’s 2014-15 NHL regular season television broadcast schedule, featuring 77 games broadcast on the network.

Sun Sports will start the season in Tampa Bay as the Bolts host the in-state rival Florida Panthers. Coverage will start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9 with a special, one-hour edition of the Lightning LIVE pregame show. Lightning LIVE, Sun Sports’ pregame show and extended postgame show for all home and road broadcasts, will provide viewers with an in-depth look at the team before they hit the ice versus their opponents.

Play-by-play announcer Rick Peckham returns, alongside Bobby "The Chief" Taylor as color analyst, to provide viewers with expert commentary throughout the season. Lightning LIVE host Paul Kennedy will be joined throughout the season by Chris Dingman and Dave Andreychuk as color analysts during pregame, postgame and intermissions. Kelly Nash also returns as in-game reporter and "Inside the Lightning" host.

In anticipation of the start of the season, Sun Sports will televise over 30 hours of Tampa Bay Lightning programming starting on Friday, Oct. 3. For six consecutive nights on the network, ‘Countdown to Thunder’ week will feature replays of six of the best games from last season, as well as the premiere of the "Inside the Lightning: Top 10 Moments from Last Season" special. The popular "Inside the Lightning" series returns and will feature player profiles and episodes offering behind-the-scenes access to other aspects of the team and its operations — all designed to bring the fans closer to their favorite team. There are six new episodes tentatively scheduled to air throughout the upcoming season.

The 2014-2015 broadcast schedule will provide fans with an exciting, season-long slate of matchups as the Bolts look to win the Atlantic Division after last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs appearance.

Be sure to follow @SunSportsBolts on twitter for live coverage and information on the Tampa Bay Lightning, and visit FOXSportsFlorida.com for channel listings, podcasts, video highlights and recaps and exclusive Bolts coverage.

Sun Sports 2014-15 Tampa Bay Lightning broadcast schedule