TAMPA — Monday was a bad night to be a Blackhawks fan in Tampa.
It was hard to spot any Chicago colors in a sea of Lightning blue as at least 4,000 people descended on Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park — despite temperatures stuck at around 92 degrees — for a free Tampa Bay Lightning watch party. Another prominent color: red, as in the bright red flares that soared into the air when the team scored its first goal.
It seems Lightning fever has infected more bodies than can be stuffed into the earlier outdoor venue for away games at Channelside Bay Plaza, officials said.