Tampa Bay Lightning facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tampa Bay Lightning
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1992
History	Tampa Bay Lightning 1992–present
Home arena	Amalie Arena
City	Tampa, Florida
Colors	Blue, white, black
Media	FanDuel Sports Network Sun 102.5 The Bone
Owner(s)	Vinik Sports Group, LLC (Jeffrey Vinik, chairman)
General manager	Julien BriseBois
Head coach	Jon Cooper
Captain	Victor Hedman
Minor league affiliates	Syracuse Crunch (AHL) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	3 (2003–04, 2019–20, 2020–21)
Conference championships	4 (2003–04, 2014–15, 2019–20, 2021–22)
Presidents' Trophies	1 (2018–19)
Division championships	4 (2002–03, 2003–04, 2017–18, 2018–19)

The Tampa Bay Lightning, often called the Bolts, are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning play in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa.

The team was started on December 6, 1990. They began playing in the 1992–93 NHL season. The Lightning have won the Stanley Cup three times: in 2004, 2020, and 2021. They also reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015 and 2022. From 2015 to 2022, the team had great success. Many people consider them a modern NHL dynasty during that time. They also won the Presidents' Trophy in 2019. This trophy goes to the team with the best regular season record. They tied an NHL record with 62 wins that season.

Team History: The Tampa Bay Lightning Story

How the Lightning Started (1992–2000)

Bringing Hockey to Tampa Bay

In the late 1980s, the NHL wanted to add new teams. Two groups from the Tampa Bay Area wanted a team. One group was led by Phil Esposito, a famous hockey player. His group won the chance to create a team on December 6, 1990. They named the team the Lightning. This was because Tampa Bay is known as the "Lightning Capital of North America."

Phil Esposito helped bring an NHL team to Tampa Bay in 1992.

Phil Esposito became the team's first president and general manager. He hired Terry Crisp as the first head coach. In 1992, the Lightning made history. Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game. She played as a goalie for the Lightning in a preseason game.

The Lightning played their first regular season game on October 7, 1992. They played in a small arena called Expo Hall. They surprised everyone by beating the Chicago Blackhawks 7–3. Chris Kontos scored four goals in that game. The team started strong but finished last in their division. Still, their 23 wins were good for an expansion team. Brian Bradley scored 42 goals, which was a team record for many years.

The next season, the Lightning moved to the Florida Suncoast Dome. This building was renamed the "ThunderDome." They got new players like goalie Daren Puppa. The team improved but still finished last in their division.

Challenges On and Off the Ice

In the 1995–96 season, the Lightning finally made the playoffs! They had a good record of 38–32–12. They played the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. In Game 3, a huge crowd of 28,183 fans watched the Lightning win in overtime. This was the largest crowd ever for an NHL game at the time. But the team lost the series after their goalie, Puppa, got injured.

The Lightning moved to their current home, the Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena), in 1996.

For the 1996–97 season, the Lightning moved to a new arena in downtown Tampa. It was called the Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena). They added goal-scorer Dino Ciccarelli. The team looked set for another playoff spot. But many key players got injured. Puppa had back problems, and Bradley suffered concussions. These injuries caused the team to miss the playoffs.

The team faced many money problems. The owners, Kokusai Green, were not paying close attention to the team. They wanted to sell the team but asked for too much money. This made it hard to find a buyer. The team was deeply in debt.

In 1998, Art Williams bought the team. He was an insurance businessman. He put more money into the team and paid off some debts. He also fired Phil Esposito. The Lightning drafted Vincent Lecavalier first overall in 1998. He would become a very important player for the team. However, Williams also struggled to manage the team. The Lightning had a very bad season in 1998–99.

Becoming a Stronger Team (2000–2010)

By 1999, Art Williams decided to sell the team. William Davidson, who owned the Detroit Pistons basketball team, bought the Lightning. Davidson hired Rick Dudley as the new general manager. The team still had tough seasons, losing many games. But young stars like Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards started to shine. In 2001, John Tortorella became the new head coach. The team also got goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Winning the Stanley Cup (2002–2004)

The Lightning improved a lot in the 2002–03 season. They had a strong group of young players. These included Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, and Fredrik Modin. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin played very well. The team finished first in their division. Coach Tortorella was nominated for the Jack Adams Award.

In the playoffs, the Lightning won their first-ever series. They beat the Washington Capitals. But they lost to the New Jersey Devils in the next round.

The 2003–04 was amazing for the Lightning. They had their best season ever, with 106 points. They lost very few games to injuries. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Islanders and then swept the Montreal Canadiens. Next, they faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the Conference Finals. It was a tough series that went to seven games. Fredrik Modin scored the winning goal in Game 7. This sent the Lightning to their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals!

Their opponent in the Finals was the Calgary Flames. This series also went to seven games. The final game was played in Tampa. Ruslan Fedotenko scored both goals in a 2–1 victory. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup! Brad Richards was named the playoff MVP. Coach Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award. Martin St. Louis led the league in points and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player.

After the Championship (2004–2007)

The NHL had a lockout in 2004–05, so the Lightning couldn't defend their title. In 2005–06, they barely made the playoffs. They lost to the Ottawa Senators in the first round.

During the 2006–07 season, Vincent Lecavalier set new team records for points and goals in a single season.

The 2006–07 was up and down. But in March, Vincent Lecavalier broke the team record for points in a season. He finished with 108 points. He also led the league with 52 goals. The Lightning made the playoffs again but lost to the New Jersey Devils.

A Difficult Period (2007–2008)

The Lightning had a tough time in the 2007–08 season. Even with star players like Lecavalier, St. Louis, and Richards, the team struggled. They finished last in their division and conference.

Vaclav Prospal played for the Lightning in 2007.

The team made some big trades. They sent Brad Richards and goalie Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars. In return, they got goalie Mike Smith and other players. The Lightning ended up with the best chance to get the first pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. They won the lottery and picked Steven Stamkos. He was expected to be a future star.

Coach John Tortorella was fired after the season. Barry Melrose was hired as the new head coach.

The Arrival of Steven Stamkos (2008–2010)

Steven Stamkos (pictured in March 2009) was the first overall pick for the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Steven Stamkos was the first overall pick in 2008. The team promoted him heavily. However, the team's ownership made some controversial decisions. They traded star defenseman Dan Boyle. General Manager Jay Feaster resigned because of interference from the owners.

Barry Melrose was fired early in the 2008–09 season. Rick Tocchet became the interim head coach. The team finished with one of their lowest point totals ever. In the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Lightning picked Victor Hedman second overall. He would also become a key player for the team.

Martin St. Louis with the Lightning in March 2010.

In the 2009–10, Steven Stamkos had a breakout year. He scored 51 goals, tying for the league lead. This earned him the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. During this season, Jeffrey Vinik bought the team. After the season, Vinik fired both coach Rick Tocchet and GM Brian Lawton.

The Steve Yzerman and Julien BriseBois Era (2010–Present)

A Strong Playoff Run (2010–2011)

In May 2010, Jeffrey Vinik hired Steve Yzerman as the new general manager. Yzerman then hired Guy Boucher as the head coach. Yzerman made many changes to the team. He signed star winger Martin St. Louis to a new contract. The team also got new players like Simon Gagne and goalie Dwayne Roloson.

The Lightning had a great 2010–11. They finished with 103 points, tying a team record for wins. Martin St. Louis finished second in the NHL in points. Steven Stamkos was second in goals. The team returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Lecavalier scores the game-winning goal in Game 2 of the 2011 Eastern Conference semi-finals. The team swept the Washington Capitals in the series.

In the 2011 playoffs, Tampa Bay faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were down 3–1 in the series but came back to win the next three games. This was their first playoff series win since 2004. Then, they swept the top-seeded Washington Capitals. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they played the Boston Bruins. The series went to seven games. The Lightning lost Game 7 by a single goal, just missing the Stanley Cup Finals.

Building for the Future (2011–2013)

The Lightning missed the playoffs in the 2011–12 season. However, Steven Stamkos set a new team record with 60 goals. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy again.

The 2012–13 NHL lockout shortened the next season to 48 games. The team struggled. On March 25, 2013, coach Guy Boucher was fired. Jon Cooper became the new head coach. Martin St. Louis won his second Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer.

On June 27, 2013, the team bought out the contract of captain Vincent Lecavalier. This was a tough decision but helped the team manage its salary cap.

Back in Playoff Contention (2013–2014)

The Lightning started the 2013–14 well after getting goalie Ben Bishop. But on November 11, 2013, Steven Stamkos broke his leg. He missed 45 games.

Ryan Callahan joined the Lightning in a trade that sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers.

In March 2014, Martin St. Louis asked for a trade. He was sent to the New York Rangers for their captain, Ryan Callahan, and draft picks. On March 6, Steven Stamkos was named the new captain. The Lightning finished with 101 points and made the playoffs. But they were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

Stanley Cup Contenders (2014–2018)

The Lightning had a great 2014–15, scoring the most goals in the NHL. They beat the Detroit Red Wings and then the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers. The Lightning won a tough seven-game series. This sent them to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 2004.

In the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, they faced the Chicago Blackhawks. The Lightning took a 2–1 series lead. But the Blackhawks won the next three games to win the Stanley Cup.

Fans watching Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals outside Amalie Arena.

The 2015–16 started slowly. There were questions about Steven Stamkos's contract. Also, young player Jonathan Drouin asked for a trade. But the team played much better in 2016. They set a team record with 11 wins in a row. However, Stamkos suffered a blood clot injury. Drouin returned to the team.

Nikita Kucherov became a top scorer for the Lightning in the 2015–16 season.

In the 2016 playoffs, the Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals again, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins. Goalie Ben Bishop got injured in Game 1. The series went to Game 7 in Pittsburgh. Steven Stamkos made a surprise return from injury. But the Lightning lost 2–1, falling short of the Finals again.

After the season, Stamkos signed a new long-term contract. Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov also signed new deals.

The Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs in the 2016–17 season. Injuries hit the team hard, especially to captain Steven Stamkos. But young players like Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde showed promise.

In the 2017–18 season, Steven Stamkos returned healthy. The Lightning had a fantastic season, finishing with 113 points. They won their first Atlantic Division title since 2004. Andrei Vasilevskiy was nominated for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie. Nikita Kucherov scored 100 points.

Victor Hedman won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017–18.

In the 2018 playoffs, the Lightning beat the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years. But they lost to the Washington Capitals in seven games.

Presidents' Trophy and a Big Upset (2018–2019)

On September 11, 2018, Steve Yzerman stepped down as general manager. His assistant, Julien BriseBois, took over. In the 2018–19 season, the Lightning had an amazing regular season. They won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time. They tied an NHL record with 62 wins. Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the top scorer. Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie.

However, in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, the Lightning faced the eighth-seeded Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets swept the Lightning in four games. This was a huge upset in NHL history.

Winning Back-to-Back Stanley Cups (2019–2022)

After the shocking playoff exit, the Lightning made some changes. They signed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Patrick Maroon. They also signed Brayden Point and extended Andrei Vasilevskiy's contract.

The Lightning started the 2019–20 season well. They had an 11-game winning streak, a new team record. Captain Steven Stamkos got injured again. Before the 2020 trade deadline, the Lightning added forwards Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. These players would be very important.

Andrei Vasilevskiy helped the Lightning win two Stanley Cups in a row. He won the playoff MVP award in 2021.

The NHL season was stopped on March 12, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league later decided to finish the season with a special playoff format. The Lightning were the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the first round of the 2020 playoffs, the Lightning played the Columbus Blue Jackets again. Game 1 became the fourth-longest NHL game ever. Brayden Point scored the winning goal in the fifth overtime period. The Lightning won the series in five games. In the second round, they beat the Boston Bruins. The rest of the playoffs were played in Edmonton. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Lightning beat the New York Islanders in six games. This sent them to the Stanley Cup Finals again.

In the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals, the Lightning faced the Dallas Stars. Steven Stamkos made a brief return in Game 3 and scored a goal. The Lightning won Game 6 by a score of 2–0. They won their second Stanley Cup championship! Victor Hedman was named the playoff MVP. Nikita Kucherov set new team records for playoff points, goals, and assists. The team celebrated with a boat parade on the Hillsborough River.

For the 2020–21 season, the league changed divisions due to COVID-19. The Lightning played in the Central Division. Nikita Kucherov missed the entire regular season due to hip surgery. The Lightning finished third in their division.

In the 2021 playoffs, the Lightning played their state rivals, the Florida Panthers, for the first time in the playoffs. The Lightning won the series 4–2. In the second round, they beat the Carolina Hurricanes. For the second year in a row, they faced the New York Islanders in the semifinals. The series went to seven games. Yanni Gourde scored a short-handed goal in Game 7 to win the series. The Lightning reached the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals against the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning won the series in five games, winning the Stanley Cup in their home arena! Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy won the playoff MVP award. He had five shutouts in the playoffs. Patrick Maroon won his third straight Stanley Cup.

On February 26, 2022, the Lightning played their first outdoor game. It was against the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium. The Lightning won the game. In the 2022 playoffs, the Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and swept the Florida Panthers. They reached their third straight Stanley Cup Finals. But they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in six games.

Recent Playoff Exits and Changes (2022–Present)

In the 2022–23 season, the Lightning finished third in their division. They played the Toronto Maple Leafs again in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. This time, the Maple Leafs won the series 4–2. It was the first time since 2019 that the Lightning did not reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the 2023–24 season, the Lightning made the playoffs as a wild card team. But they were eliminated by their rivals, the Florida Panthers, in five games in the first round. The Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In the 2024 off-season, longtime captain Steven Stamkos left the team and signed with the Nashville Predators. The Lightning then named Victor Hedman as their new captain.

Team Colors and Logos

Since 2010, the Lightning's main colors have been blue, black, and white. Their logo is a cool lightning bolt. This is why they are often called the "Bolts."

Logos and Jerseys

The main (left) and alternate logos (right) used from 1992 to 2007. The team was named the Lightning because of Tampa Bay's storms.

The first Lightning jerseys had simple stripes and different colored shoulders. They also had "victory stripes" under the arms. In 1996, they added a blue third jersey with a wave and rain design.

Over the years, the team changed its fonts for player names and numbers. In 2001, they started using traditional block letters and numbers. They also changed their blue color to a darker "speed blue."

For the 2007–08 season, the Lightning got new Reebok jerseys. They also updated their main logo. The new logo looked like the first one but was more modern. It had "Tampa Bay" written across the top.

In 2007, the Lightning got a new main logo, which they used until 2011.

In the 2008–09 season, the Lightning introduced a new "alternate" or "third" jersey. It was mostly "electric blue" with "BOLTS" written across the front.

On January 31, 2011, the Lightning showed off new logos and jerseys for the 2011–12. The new uniforms were a classic hockey sweater design. They were mainly blue and white, with black added as a trim color. The "victory stripes" were removed.

For the 2014–15 season, the Lightning got a new black third jersey. It still had the "BOLTS" wordmark. In 2017–18, they made small changes to their jerseys when the NHL switched to Adidas.

On February 7, 2019, the Lightning showed a new black uniform. It had black and gray patterns on the sleeves and numbers. For the 2020–21 season, they released a "Reverse Retro" uniform. It used a design from 2001 to 2007 but with blue as the main color. Their 2022–23 "Reverse Retro" uniform used a design from the 1990s but in white.

For the 2022 NHL Stadium Series, the Lightning wore a white uniform with a blue thunderbolt stripe. In the 2023–24 season, they got a new black alternate uniform. It brought back the "victory stripes" on the sleeves.

Team Mascot: ThunderBug

The Lightning's mascot is a lightning bug named ThunderBug. He entertains fans at games and visits the community.

Season-by-Season Records

This is a short list of the Lightning's recent seasons. For all seasons, see List of Tampa Bay Lightning seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and Team Staff

Retired Numbers

The Lightning have retired two jersey numbers to honor important players.

• The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.

Team Captains

Steven Stamkos was the Lightning's captain for many years, starting in 2014.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

Several players who played for the Lightning are in the Hockey Hall of Fame:

• Dave Andreychuk
• Dino Ciccarelli
• Mark Recchi
• Denis Savard
• Martin St. Louis

Awards and Trophies Won by the Lightning

Top Scorers in Team History

Regular Season Scoring Leaders

These are the top 10 players with the most points in the Lightning's regular season history.

•  *  – Player currently on the Lightning team.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Victor Hedman is the Lightning's all-time leading scorer among defensemen.

Playoff Scoring Leaders

These are the top 10 players with the most points in the Lightning's playoff history.

•  *  – Player currently on the Lightning team.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Team Records

Individual Player Records

Team Records

• Largest home playoff crowd: 28,183 (ThunderDome – now Tropicana Field) (1995–96)
• Largest home regular season crowd: 27,227 (ThunderDome) (1993–94)
• Most points in a season: 128 (2018–19)
• Most wins in a season: 62 (2018–19)
• Most home wins in a season: 32 (2014–15 and 2018–19)
• Most road wins in a season: 30 (2018–19)
• Most wins in a row: 11 (2019–20)

Radio and Television Broadcasts

You can listen to Lightning games on WHPT radio. Dave Mishkin is the play-by-play announcer. Phil Esposito is the color commentator for home games.

Lightning games are shown on FanDuel Sports Network Sun. Rick Peckham was the TV play-by-play announcer for many years. He retired after the 2019–20 season. Dave Randorf took his place. Brian Engblom is the color commentator. Paul Kennedy is the studio host. Former Lightning players like Dave Andreychuk help with the pregame and postgame shows.

Images for kids

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  The current logo of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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  The Tampa Bay Lightning's current uniform.

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  Phil Esposito helped bring an NHL team to Tampa Bay in 1992.

• 

  The Lightning moved to their current home, the Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena), in 1996.

• 

  During the 2006–07 season, Vincent Lecavalier set new team records for points and goals in a single season.

• 

  Vaclav Prospal played for the Lightning in 2007.

• 

  Steven Stamkos (pictured in March 2009) was the first overall pick for the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

• 

  Martin St. Louis with the Lightning in March 2010.

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  Lecavalier scores the game-winning goal in Game 2 of the 2011 Eastern Conference semi-finals. The team swept the Washington Capitals in the series.

• 

  Ryan Callahan joined the Lightning in a trade that sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers.

• 

  Fans watching Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals outside Amalie Arena.

• 

  Nikita Kucherov became a top scorer for the Lightning in the 2015–16 season.

• 

  Victor Hedman won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2017–18.

• 

  Andrei Vasilevskiy helped the Lightning win two Stanley Cups in a row. He won the playoff MVP award in 2021.

• 

  Steven Stamkos was the Lightning's captain for many years, starting in 2014.

• 

  The main (left) and alternate logos (right) used from 1992 to 2007. The team was named the Lightning because of Tampa Bay's storms.

• 

  The main (left) and alternate logos (right) used from 1992 to 2007. The team was named the Lightning because of Tampa Bay's storms.

• 

  In 2007, the Lightning got a new main logo, which they used until 2011.

In Spanish: Tampa Bay Lightning para niños