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	Scripps Sports (WXPX-TV) 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 from Tampa, Florida. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Their home games are at Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa. Jeffrey Vinik owns the team, and Julien BriseBois is the general manager. Jon Cooper has been the head coach since March 2013, making him the longest-serving active head coach in the NHL.

The Lightning started as a new team on December 6, 1990, and began playing in the 1992–93 NHL season. They have won three Stanley Cup championships: in 2004, 2020, and 2021. They also reached the Stanley Cup Finals two other times, in 2015 and 2022. Their strong performance from 2015 to 2022, including reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2016 and 2018, led some to call them a modern NHL dynasty. They also made it to the conference finals in 2011. In 2019, the Lightning won the Presidents' Trophy by tying the record for most regular season wins (62) in the 2018–19 season. This record was later broken by the 2022–23 Boston Bruins. From 2020 to 2022, the Lightning won 11 playoff series in a row.

Team History: How the Bolts Began

Early Years and Challenges (1992–2000)

Bringing Hockey to Tampa Bay

In the late 1980s, the NHL decided to add more teams. Two groups in the Tampa Bay Area wanted a team. One group from St. Petersburg was led by Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford. The other, from Tampa, was led by Phil Esposito and his brother Tony, both famous hockey players. The Esposito group, with help from Japanese businesses, was willing to pay the full $50 million fee upfront. On December 6, 1990, the Esposito group won the bid. They named the team the Lightning because the Tampa Bay Area 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 president and general manager. Tony Esposito was the chief scout, and Mel Lowell was the executive vice-president. Terry Crisp, who had won a Stanley Cup as a player and coached the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup in 1989, became the first head coach. Phil Esposito also brought in former teammates from the Boston Bruins to help the team.

In 1991, there were plans for a company to invest millions in the Lightning, but these plans failed.

The Lightning played their first preseason game in September 1992. Later that preseason, Manon Rhéaume made history by becoming the first woman to play in an NHL game. She played for the Lightning against the St. Louis Blues, stopping seven of nine shots.

The Lightning's first regular season game was on October 7, 1992, at the small 11,000-seat Expo Hall in Tampa. They surprised the Chicago Blackhawks, winning 7–3 with four goals from Chris Kontos. The team started strong, even reaching the top of their division for a month. However, long road trips caused them to struggle, and they finished last with a record of 23–54–7. This was still one of the best starts for an NHL expansion team at the time. Brian Bradley scored 42 goals, a team record until 2006–07.

The next season, the Lightning moved to the Eastern Conference and into the Florida Suncoast Dome in St. Petersburg, which was renamed the "ThunderDome." They added goaltender Daren Puppa, left wing Petr Klima, and veteran Denis Savard. Puppa's play greatly improved their defense. The Lightning finished last in their division in 1993–94. The 1994–95 season, which was shorter due to a lockout, also ended disappointingly.

On-Ice and Ownership Struggles

In their fourth season, 1995–96, the Lightning finally made the playoffs. Brian Bradley led the team with 79 points, and Alexander Selivanov scored 31 goals. Roman Hamrlik had an All-Star year on defense. They finished with an 88-point record, just ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. Goaltender Daren Puppa was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. In the first round, they played the Philadelphia Flyers. The Lightning won game 3 in overtime in front of 28,183 fans at the ThunderDome, setting a record for the largest crowd at an NHL game. However, Puppa got injured in that game, and the Lightning lost the next three games and the series.

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, the Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena). They added goal-scorer Dino Ciccarelli, who scored 35 goals, and Chris Gratton scored 30. The team seemed headed for another playoff spot, but many players got injured. Puppa had back problems and played only six games. Bradley suffered concussions, limiting his play. Center John Cullen developed a serious illness and missed the end of the season. These injuries caused the Lightning to miss the playoffs. They would not score 60 points again for five years.

Most of the Lightning's early star players left by the 1998–99 season due to free agency or bad trades. Coach Terry Crisp was fired early in the 1997–98 season and replaced by Jacques Demers. Despite Demers' past success, he could not turn the team around, and the Lightning lost 55 games, their worst season ever.

The team's struggles were largely due to problems with its owner, Kokusai Green. There were rumors that the team was close to bankruptcy. The team's finances were a big concern for the NHL. In 1998, Kokusai Green finally sold the team to insurance businessman Art Williams. The team was $102 million in debt. Williams invested more money and cleared most of the debt. He fired the Esposito brothers and gave Demers full control. The Lightning drafted Vincent Lecavalier first overall in 1998, who became a key player for the team. However, Williams also struggled, losing $20 million in one season.

Return to Success (2000–2010)

In 1999, Art Williams sold the team for $115 million to William Davidson, who also owned the Detroit Pistons. Davidson appointed Tom Wilson as team president. Wilson hired Rick Dudley as the new general manager, who then brought in Steve Ludzik as head coach.

Despite these changes, the Lightning continued to struggle, losing 54 games in 1999–2000 and 52 in 2000–01. This made them the first NHL team to have four straight seasons with 50 or more losses. The good news was that Lecavalier and Brad Richards started to become NHL stars. Ludzik was replaced in early 2001 by John Tortorella. The team also acquired goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin in a trade.

The 2001–02 season, Tortorella's first full year, showed some improvement. Martin St. Louis was having a great season until he broke his leg. By mid-February, the Lightning were out of playoff contention due to injuries. General manager Rick Dudley was fired and replaced by Jay Feaster. The Lightning still showed some life, earning over 60 points for the first time since 1997. Tortorella removed Lecavalier as captain due to contract issues.

Dream Seasons and First Stanley Cup (2002–2004)

With young stars like Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Fredrik Modin, and Ruslan Fedotenko, the Lightning were expected to improve. They did so even faster than expected in 2002–03. Led by Khabibulin's goaltending and strong scoring, the Lightning battled the Washington Capitals for first place in their division. They finished with 93 points, their first time breaking the 90-point mark. They won the division by one point, giving them home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Coach Tortorella was nominated for the Jack Adams Award.

In the playoffs, the Lightning lost their first two games but then won four in a row for their first playoff series win ever. However, they lost in five games to the New Jersey Devils, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Lightning continued to improve dramatically in the 2003–04 regular season. They finished with 106 points, the second-best record in the NHL, and their first 100-point season. They had very few player injuries. In the first round of the playoffs, they beat the New York Islanders in five games, with Khabibulin getting three shutouts.

In the second round, the Lightning swept the Montreal Canadiens. Next, they faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference finals. It was a close seven-game series, with neither team winning two games in a row. Fredrik Modin scored the winning goal in game 7, earning the Lightning the Eastern Conference championship and their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Their opponent in the Finals was the Calgary Flames. This series also went to seven games, with the final game played in Tampa on June 7, 2004. Ruslan Fedotenko scored both Lightning goals in a 2–1 victory, winning the Stanley Cup! Brad Richards, who had 26 points in the playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Tortorella won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Coach of the Year. Just three years after having four straight seasons with 50 or more losses, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in only their 12th year. Martin St. Louis led the team and the NHL with 94 points and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player. He also won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the most outstanding player voted by the players. General manager Jay Feaster was named the league's executive of the year.

Post-Championship and Playoff Runs (2004–2007)

The Lightning had to wait a year to defend their title because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout. In 2005–06, they barely made the playoffs with 93 points. They lost to the Ottawa Senators in five games in the first round of the 2006 playoffs.

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

In the 2006–07 season, the Lightning had an inconsistent start but played much better in January and February, getting back into the playoff race. On March 16, 2007, Vincent Lecavalier broke the franchise record for most points in a season with 108, previously held by Martin St. Louis. Lecavalier also broke the team's goal-scoring record, finishing with a league-leading 52 goals.

The Lightning made several trades before the deadline, adding players like Kyle Wanvig, Stephen Baby, and Shane O'Brien. They were competing with the Atlanta Thrashers for first place in their division. However, a loss to the Florida Panthers and a Thrashers win meant the Lightning finished seventh in the Eastern Conference. They were eliminated from the playoffs on April 22, losing to the New Jersey Devils in game 6.

Vaclav Prospal with the Lightning in 2007. He was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.

After the season, a group led by Doug MacLean tried to buy the team, but the deal fell apart during the 2007–08 season.

Decline and New Ownership (2007–2008)

The Lightning struggled in the 2007–08 campaign. While their top players like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Brad Richards performed well, they didn't get consistent help from others. By January 2008, they were in last place in their division and the Eastern Conference.

On February 13, 2008, it was announced that a new group, OK Hockey LLC, led by Oren Koules and Len Barrie, agreed to buy the Lightning. The team was active at the trade deadline. They traded Vaclav Prospal to the Philadelphia Flyers. They also traded former playoff MVP Brad Richards and goaltender Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars for goaltender Mike Smith and forwards Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern.

After the trade deadline, the Lightning's performance didn't improve much. They won only five more games and finished with a 31–42–9 record. They had the best chance to win the top pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft through the draft lottery, which they won on April 7. They used this pick to select Steven Stamkos, who was expected to be a future star.

The Lightning were the worst road team in the NHL, winning only 11 games. Vincent Lecavalier suffered a dislocated shoulder near the end of the season. Despite the team's struggles, Lecavalier won both the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award for his charity work, including a $3 million pledge to All Children's Hospital.

Head coach John Tortorella was fired after the season. On June 23, Barry Melrose, a former NHL analyst, was introduced as the new head coach.

The Arrival of Steven Stamkos (2008–2010)

Steven Stamkos was the first overall pick by Tampa Bay. On July 29, 2008, he signed his first contract. The Lightning promoted Stamkos heavily, even with a website asking "Seen Stamkos?" On July 4, 2008, defenseman Dan Boyle was traded to the San Jose Sharks. Boyle later criticized the team's ownership, calling them "liars." Seven days later, general manager Jay Feaster resigned due to interference from the owners.

Steven Stamkos (pictured in March 2009) was the first overall pick by the Lightning in the 2008 NHL entry draft.

The Lightning started the 2008–09 season in the Czech Republic against the New York Rangers. Barry Melrose got his first win as a head coach in over 13 years on October 21, 2008. However, the team didn't start well, and Melrose was fired with a 5–7–4 record. Rick Tocchet, the assistant coach, became the interim head coach. The Lightning traded veterans Mark Recchi and Olaf Kolzig in March. The team finished the season with 66 points, their lowest since 2000–01.

Martin St. Louis with the Lightning in March 2010. He signed a four-year contract extension in 2010.

With the second overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft, the Lightning selected Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, who also became a major part of the team. In the 2009 off-season, Rick Tocchet became the full-time head coach. The Lightning had an up-and-down start to the 2009–10 season. Despite not having the strongest roster, they stayed in the playoff race until March. They finished the season with 80 points, missing the playoffs.

Stamkos scored 51 goals in his second NHL season, along with 44 assists for 95 points. His 51 goals tied him for the NHL lead with Sidney Crosby, earning him a share of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. During the season, the team was sold to investment banker Jeffrey Vinik. After the season, Vinik made big changes, firing both head coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton.

Steve Yzerman and Julien BriseBois Eras (2010–Present)

2011 Playoff Run to the Conference Finals

In May 2010, Vinik hired Steve Yzerman from the Detroit Red Wings to be the new general manager. Yzerman then hired Guy Boucher as the new head coach.

Yzerman made big moves in his first off-season. With the sixth pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft, the Lightning selected forward Brett Connolly. On July 1, 2010, they traded defenseman Andrej Meszaros and signed star winger Martin St. Louis to a four-year contract extension. They also acquired high-scoring winger Simon Gagne and signed other players like Sean Bergenheim and Pavel Kubina.

When starting goaltender Mike Smith was injured, the Lightning called up Cedrick Desjardins and then acquired veteran Dwayne Roloson for more help in net.

The Lightning had a strong 2010–11 season, with a 46–25–11 record and 103 points, matching a franchise record for wins. They finished second in their division and fifth in the Eastern Conference, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Martin St. Louis finished second in the NHL in points with 99. Steven Stamkos scored 45 goals, finishing second in the league.

Lecavalier scored the game-winning goal in game 2 of the 2011 conference semifinals. The team swept the Washington Capitals in that series.

In the 2011 playoffs, Tampa Bay played the Pittsburgh Penguins. After falling behind 1–3 in the series, the Lightning won three straight games, including a 1–0 win in game 7, to win their first playoff series since 2004. In the conference semifinals, the Lightning swept the top-seeded Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay then played the Boston Bruins in the conference finals. In game 4, the Lightning came back from a 0–3 deficit to win 5–3, tying the series. The series went to seven games, but the Lightning lost game 7 by a single goal (0–1) to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Bruins. They were just one win short of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.

Transition Seasons (2011–2013)

The Lightning finished the 2011–12 season with an 84-point record, missing the playoffs. Individually, Steven Stamkos set a franchise record with 60 goals, winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the second time. He was also second in the NHL in points with 97.

The 2012–13 NHL lockout resulted in a shorter 48-game season. The Lightning struggled, and on March 25, 2013, head coach Guy Boucher was fired. The Lightning announced Jon Cooper would become the new head coach. Martin St. Louis won his second Art Ross Trophy with 60 points in the shortened season.

On June 27, 2013, the team announced they would buy out captain Vincent Lecavalier's contract. This made Lecavalier a free agent. The team said this was due to his contract's impact on the team's salary cap, not his play.

Return to Playoff Contention (2013–2014)

After acquiring goaltender Ben Bishop in a trade the previous season, the Lightning started the 2013–14 season well. On November 11, 2013, Steven Stamkos suffered a broken leg after crashing into a goalpost. He missed 45 games and returned on March 5, 2014.

Ryan Callahan during his first month with the Lightning. He was acquired in a trade that sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers.

In January 2014, general manager Steve Yzerman, who was also the general manager for Canada's Olympic team, did not initially name Lightning captain Martin St. Louis to the roster. After Stamkos was not cleared to play in the Olympics, Yzerman named St. Louis as a replacement. In late February, it was reported that St. Louis had asked for a trade. He reportedly only wanted to be traded to the New York Rangers. On March 5, 2014, St. Louis was traded to New York for captain Ryan Callahan and draft picks. St. Louis said his decision was based on his family. On March 6, Steven Stamkos was named Tampa Bay's 10th captain in his first game back from injury. On April 7, the team signed Steve Yzerman to a four-year contract extension.

The Lightning finished the season with 101 points, placing second in their division and making the playoffs for the first time since 2011. However, Tampa Bay was swept in four games by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.

Stanley Cup Contention and One Playoff Miss (2014–2018)

On June 25, 2014, the Lightning signed Ryan Callahan to a six-year contract extension. The same day, they bought out forward Ryan Malone's contract due to declining performance and off-ice troubles.

The Lightning finished the 2014–15 season with 108 points, placing second in their division and making the playoffs again. They scored the most goals of any NHL team. Tampa Bay eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the first round. They then faced the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, winning in six games to advance to the conference finals for the first time since 2011. They played the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers. The series went to seven games. In game 7, goaltender Ben Bishop recorded his third playoff shutout, leading the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2004. The Lightning became the first team to defeat three Original Six teams in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

The Lightning faced the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals. After losing game 1, the Lightning took a 2–1 series lead. However, the Blackhawks won the next three games to win the Stanley Cup in six games. Tampa Bay became the first team to lose the Stanley Cup Finals despite beating three Original Six teams in the previous three rounds.

A viewing party outside Amalie Arena for game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.

The Lightning had a slow start to the 2015–16 season. There were questions about captain Steven Stamkos's contract and a trade request from former third overall pick Jonathan Drouin. The team improved in early 2016, setting a franchise record with nine consecutive wins. On March 26, 2016, defenseman Anton Stralman suffered a fractured leg. Stamkos was out of the lineup on April 2 due to a blood clot in his arm. Drouin returned to the team due to these injuries. The Lightning finished second in their division and again faced the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs, defeating them in five games. Next, they faced the New York Islanders, winning that series in five games to reach the conference finals for the second year in a row. They played the Pittsburgh Penguins. In game 1, star goaltender Ben Bishop left with an injury and did not return for the rest of the series. The series went back and forth, leading to a game 7 in Pittsburgh. Steven Stamkos surprisingly returned to the lineup after his blood clot surgery. However, it wasn't enough, as the Lightning lost game 7 by a score of 2–1 to the Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Lightning were one win short of a second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

Nikita Kucherov became the Lightning's top point-scorer during the 2015–16 season.

In the 2016 off-season, Drouin withdrew his trade request. Steve Yzerman announced on June 29 that Stamkos re-signed an eight-year contract. He also signed star defenseman Victor Hedman to an eight-year deal, along with contracts for Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

The Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs in the 2016–17 season, finishing one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for a wildcard spot. The season was full of injuries, especially to captain Steven Stamkos, who suffered a torn meniscus and missed the rest of the season. Ryan Callahan also played only 18 games due to multiple surgeries. The team traded goaltender Ben Bishop, center Brian Boyle, and forward Valtteri Filppula. However, there were positive signs as winger Nikita Kucherov scored 40 goals for the first time, and young players like Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde, and Jake Dotchin showed promise.

In the 2017 off-season, the Lightning traded Jonathan Drouin to the Montreal Canadiens for defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev and a draft pick. They also signed defenseman Daniel Girardi and winger Chris Kunitz.

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

In the 2017–18 season, Steven Stamkos returned from injury and started strong. The Lightning finished with a 54–23–5 record and 113 points, winning their first Atlantic Division title since 2003–04 and securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. Andrei Vasilevskiy was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. Nikita Kucherov scored 100 points, finishing third in the league. Steve Yzerman was nominated for the NHL General Manager of the Year Award. In the 2018 playoffs, the Lightning eliminated the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins, both in five games. However, they were defeated in the conference finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals in seven games, again one win short of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Presidents' Trophy Winners and a Shocking Playoff Exit (2018–2019)

On September 11, 2018, Steve Yzerman resigned as general manager, and longtime assistant general manager Julien BriseBois took his place. During the 2018–19 season, the Lightning won their first Presidents' Trophy and second straight division title. They finished with 62 wins, tying the NHL record for most wins in a season set by the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings. Nikita Kucherov became the second player in Lightning history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading point scorer, setting a new franchise record of 128 points. Andrei Vasilevskiy became the first player in team history to win the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. However, in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, they were swept in four games by the eighth-seeded Columbus Blue Jackets. This was the first time a Presidents' Trophy winner was swept in the first round, and it is considered one of the biggest upsets in league history.

Back-to-Back Stanley Cups and Three Straight Finals (2019–2022)

After their early exit from the 2019 playoffs, several players left the Lightning. To fill these spots, the Lightning signed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and left winger Patrick Maroon, who had just won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues. They also re-signed centers Brayden Point and Cedric Paquette, and extended starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy's contract.

The Lightning started the season with a 17–13–4 record. After that, they won 23 of their next 26 games, including a franchise-record eleven consecutive wins. Captain Steven Stamkos suffered a core muscle injury in late February and was expected to miss the rest of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

Before the 2020 trade deadline, the Lightning made two important trades. They acquired forward Blake Coleman from the New Jersey Devils and forward Barclay Goodrow from the San Jose Sharks. These players were key to their future success.

Andrei Vasilevskiy helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2021.

Tampa Bay had played only 70 games when the NHL suspended the season on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league later canceled the rest of the regular season. The Lightning had a 43–21–6 record and were second in their conference. The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs were expanded to 24 teams and took place in "hub cities" in Canada. The Lightning, as one of the top four teams, played in a round-robin to determine playoff seeding and earned the second seed in the East.

In the first round, the Lightning faced the Columbus Blue Jackets again. Game 1 became the fourth-longest NHL game in history, with Brayden Point scoring the winning goal in the fifth overtime period. Point also scored in overtime in game 5, eliminating Columbus and getting revenge for the previous year's playoff loss. In the second round, the Lightning faced the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins. After losing game 1, the Lightning won the next four games, with Victor Hedman's double-overtime goal in game 5 sealing the series. The rest of the playoffs took place in Edmonton. In the conference finals, the Lightning played the New York Islanders. The Islanders pushed the series to six games, but Tampa Bay won in overtime with a goal by Anthony Cirelli. This win earned the Lightning their third Prince of Wales Trophy and their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since 2015.

In the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning met the Dallas Stars. The teams split the first two games. In game 3, Steven Stamkos returned to the lineup, scoring a goal on his only shot of the series before leaving the game. Tampa Bay won games 3 and 4 to take a 3–1 series lead. Dallas won game 5 in double-overtime to force a game 6, but the Lightning closed them out with a 2–0 win in game 6 to win their second Stanley Cup championship, and first since 2004. Victor Hedman was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP. Nikita Kucherov set a new franchise record for points in a single playoff season with 34. The team set a league record for most minutes played in overtime periods and became the first team to have three series-winning goals in overtime. Andrei Vasilevskiy became the franchise leader in playoff games played and won. The victory led to a new tradition for Tampa Bay sports teams: boat parades, held on the Hillsborough River due to COVID-19 rules.

Due to COVID-19, the league moved the Lightning to the Central Division for the 2020–21 season. They played a shorter 56-game season. Nikita Kucherov missed the entire regular season due to hip surgery. The Lightning acquired defensemen David Savard and Fredrik Claesson through trades. They finished the season with a 36–17–3 record, third in the Central Division.

Entering the 2021 playoffs, the Lightning faced the Florida Panthers in the first round, the first time these state rivals met in the playoffs. The Lightning won the series 4–2. In the second round, the Lightning faced the Carolina Hurricanes. Brayden Point scored the first goal in a playoff goal-scoring streak that lasted 9 games. The Lightning won the series 4–1. For the second year in a row, the Lightning faced the New York Islanders in what was called the Stanley Cup semifinals. The Islanders pushed the series to seven games, but the Lightning won game 7 with a shorthanded goal by Yanni Gourde. This earned the Lightning their second consecutive Prince of Wales Trophy and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning played the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning won the first three games, with a notable diving goal by Blake Coleman in game 2. The Canadiens won game 4 in overtime to avoid a sweep. However, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in game 5 with a single goal by Ross Colton. This was the second time the Lightning won the Cup in their home arena. Starting goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP with 5 shutouts, 4 of which clinched a series. Patrick Maroon won his third consecutive Stanley Cup.

On February 26, 2022, the Lightning played their first outdoor game in franchise history against the Nashville Predators in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium, winning 3–2. On April 14, 2022, the Lightning secured a playoff spot. In the 2022 playoffs, they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games and swept their in-state rivals, the Presidents' Trophy–winning Florida Panthers, in the second round. On June 11, the Lightning reached their third straight Stanley Cup Finals after a 2–1 win against the New York Rangers in game six of the conference finals. However, in the 2022 Final, they lost the series in game 6 against the Colorado Avalanche on June 26, falling two wins short of a third consecutive Stanley Cup title.

Recent Playoff Exits and Captain Change (2022–Present)

In the 2022–23 season, the Lightning finished third in their division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. They again played the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. This time, the Maple Leafs won the series 4–2. The Lightning became the first team in Stanley Cup playoffs history to lose three overtime games at home in a single series. This was the first time since 2019 that the Lightning did not reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the 2023–24 season, the Lightning finished fourth in their division and qualified for the 2024 playoffs as the first wild card. They were eliminated by their in–state rivals and eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, in five games in the first round.

In the 2024 off-season, longtime captain Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators after he and the team could not agree on a contract extension. The team then named Victor Hedman as the new captain.

In the 2024–25 season, the Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. They played the Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs and lost 4–1. During the series, Brandon Hagel suffered a concussion in game 4 and missed the rest of that game and game 5.

Team Colors and Mascot

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

Logo and Jerseys

The primary (left) and alternate logos (right) used by the team from 1992 to 2007. The team was named the Lightning in reference to the Tampa Bay Area being the "lightning capital of North America".

The first Lightning jerseys had simple stripes and contrasting shoulders. They also had "victory stripes" under the arms. In 1996–97, they added a blue third jersey with a wave and rain design.

The team changed their fonts for player names and numbers over the years. In 2001–02, they started using traditional block letters and numbers and changed their blue color to a darker "speed blue."

For the 2007–08 season, the Lightning debuted new Reebok "Rbk Edge" jerseys and updated their team logo. The new logo was similar to the first one but looked more modern.

In 2007 the Lightning adopted a new primary logo, which was used until 2011.

The Lightning introduced a new "alternate" or "third" jersey in the 2008–09 season. This jersey was mostly "electric blue" with black and silver accents. It had the word "BOLTS" across the front instead of the logo.

On January 23, 2011, it was reported that the Lightning planned to change their logo and colors for the 2011–12 season. The new logo and home and away jerseys were revealed on January 31, 2011. The new uniforms were a traditional hockey sweater design, mainly blue and white, with black added as a trim color. The "victory stripes" were removed. Some people thought the new blue uniforms looked too similar to the Toronto Maple Leafs' uniforms.

For the 2014–15 season, the Lightning introduced a new black third sweater to replace the "BOLTS" sweaters. This new black sweater still had the "BOLTS" wordmark but added white accents.

The Lightning made small changes to their uniforms when the NHL switched to Adidas in the 2017–18 season. The most noticeable change was removing the "TAMPA BAY" wordmark from the white away sweaters.

A third sweater was not used for a while. On February 7, 2019, the Lightning revealed a new black uniform with black and grey patterns.

For the 2020–21 season, the Lightning released a "Reverse Retro" uniform, using a design from 2001 to 2007 but with blue as the main color. Their 2022–23 "Reverse Retro" uniform used the design of the third jersey from 1996 to 1999 but with a white base.

For the 2022 NHL Stadium Series, the Lightning unveiled a white uniform with a blue thunderbolt stripe at the bottom and an updated "BOLTS" wordmark.

In the 2023–24 season, the Lightning revealed a new black alternate uniform with the roundel logo as the main crest and brought back the "victory stripes" on the sleeves.

In-Game Personalities

Greg Wolf has been the Lightning's in-game host since the 2006–07 season.

Retired United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Sonya Bryson-Kirksey sings the Canadian and American national anthems at most home games. She started singing the US anthem in 2013 and the Canadian anthem in 2020.

ThunderBug

The Lightning's mascot is a lightning bug named ThunderBug. He performs at games and appears in the community.

Season-by-Season Performance

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Lightning. For the full season-by-season history, 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

Current Roster

Updated December 3, 2022

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
22		Balcers, RudolfsRudolfs Balcers	RW	L	28	2022	Liepāja, Latvia
41		Bellemare, Pierre-EdouardPierre-Edouard Bellemare	C	L	40	2021	Le Blanc-Mesnil, France
24		Bogosian, ZachZach Bogosian	D	R	35	2021	Massena, New York
81		Cernak, ErikErik Cernak	D	R	28	2017	Košice, Slovakia
71		Cirelli, AnthonyAnthony Cirelli	C	L	28	2015	Woodbridge, Ontario
28		Cole, IanIan Cole	D	D	36	2022	Ann Arbor, Michigan
79		Colton, RossRoss Colton	C	L	28	2016	Robbinsville, New Jersey
1		Elliott, BrianBrian Elliott	G	L	40	2021	Newmarket, Ontario
7		Fleury, HaydnHaydn Fleury	D	L	29	2022	Carlyle, Saskatchewan
52		Foote, CallanCallan Foote	D	R	26	2017	Englewood, Colorado
38		Hagel, BrandonBrandon Hagel	LW	L	26	2022	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
77		Hedman, VictorVictor Hedman (A)	D	L	34	2009	Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
17		Killorn, AlexAlex Killorn (A)	C	L	35	2007	Halifax, Nova Scotia
86		Kucherov, NikitaNikita Kucherov	RW	L	32	2011	Maykop, Russia
14		Maroon, PatrickPatrick Maroon	LW	L	37	2019	St. Louis, Missouri
90		Namestnikov, VladislavVladislav Namestnikov	C	L	32	2022	Voskresensk, Russia
20		Paul, NickNick Paul	LW	L	30	2022	Mississauga, Ontario
48		Perbix, NickNick Perbix	D	R	27	2017	Elk River, Minnesota
10		Perry, CoreyCorey Perry	RW	R	40	2021	Peterborough, Ontario
21		Point, BraydenBrayden Point	C	R	29	2014	Calgary, Alberta
98		Sergachev, MikhailMikhail Sergachev	D	L	27	2017	Nizhnekamsk, Russia
91		Stamkos, StevenSteven Stamkos (C)	C/RW	R	35	2008	Markham, Ontario
88		Vasilevskiy, AndreiAndrei Vasilevskiy	G	L	30	2012	Tyumen, Russia

Retired Numbers

• The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.

Team Captains

Steven Stamkos was the longest-serving captain of the Lightning, holding the position from 2014 to 2024.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

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

Honored Players and Awards

First NHL All-Star team

• 2003–04 – Martin St. Louis
• 2017–18 – Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov
• 2018–19 – Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy
• 2020–21 – Andrei Vasilevskiy
• 2023–24 – Nikita Kucherov
• 2024–25 – Nikita Kucherov

Second NHL All-Star team

NHL All-Rookie Team

• Brad Richards: 2000–01
• Tyler Johnson: 2013–14
• Ondrej Palat: 2013–14
• Anthony Cirelli: 2018–19

All-Star Game

NHL YoungStars Game

• Brad Richards, C: 2002
• Alexander Svitov, C: 2003
• Paul Ranger, D: 2007
• Mike Lundin, D: 2008
• Steven Stamkos, C: 2009

NHL All-Star Skills Competition (Rookie)

• Jonathan Drouin, LW: 2015

Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame

First-Round Draft Picks

Awards and Trophies

Franchise Scoring Leaders

Regular Season Scoring Leaders

These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

•  *  – current Lightning player

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, with 794 points.

Playoff Scoring Leaders

These are the top-ten playoff point-scorers in franchise playoff history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL season.

•  *  – current Lightning player

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

Franchise Records

Individual Player Records

Team Records

• Largest home playoff attendance: 28,183 (ThunderDome – now Tropicana Field) (1995–96)
• Largest home regular season attendance: 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

The Lightning's main radio station is WHPT. Dave Mishkin is the play-by-play announcer, with Phil Esposito as the color commentator for home games. Greg Lenelli hosts the pregame and intermission shows. From 1995 to 2020, Rick Peckham was the television play-by-play announcer. He retired after the 2019–20 season. His last game was a playoff win for the Lightning. Dave Randorf became his replacement for the 2020–21 season. Brian Engblom is the color commentator. Paul Kennedy is the studio host. Former Lightning player Dave Andreychuk and former color commentator Bobby "The Chief" Taylor help with the television pregame and postgame broadcasts.

On December 10, 2014, long-time color commentator Bobby "The Chief" Taylor announced he would retire from the broadcast booth at the end of the 2014–15 season. Taylor had been the team's color commentator since 1993–94. He said he wanted to spend more time at home with his wife. However, Taylor continued to work as a studio analyst for the team.

On August 11, 2015, Fox Sports Sun announced Brian Engblom as Taylor's replacement for color commentary for the 2015–16 season.

The team's games were previously broadcast by FanDuel Sports Network Sun. On May 14, 2025, Scripps Sports acquired the regional rights to the Lightning games. Games are now shown on WXPX over the air, and a subscription streaming platform is also available.

See also

In Spanish: Tampa Bay Lightning para niños

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• List of National Hockey League awards