1980: Tampa Bay Lightning Face Four Original Six Teams
In 1980, the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team to face four Original Six teams in the playoffs since the four-round format was introduced in 1980.
1989: Terry Crisp Appointed as First Head Coach
Terry Crisp, who had previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers during their two Stanley Cup wins in the mid-1970s and coached the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup victory in 1989, was chosen as the Tampa Bay Lightning's first head coach.
December 6, 1990: Tampa Bay Lightning Franchise Awarded
The Esposito/Kokusai Green group was awarded the NHL expansion franchise on December 6, 1990, and the team was named "Lightning" in recognition of Tampa Bay's reputation as the "Lightning Capital of North America".
1991: Duke of Manchester's Failed Investment Plan
In 1991, Angus Montagu, the 12th Duke of Manchester, announced a plan to raise millions in investments for the Lightning through a company he directed, but the plan failed, and he was later convicted of wire fraud.
September 1992: Manon Rhéaume Makes History
Manon Rhéaume made history in September 1992 by becoming the first woman to play in an NHL game, playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues and stopping seven of nine shots. This also made her the first woman to play in any major professional North American sports leagues.
October 7, 1992: Lightning's First Regular Season Game
On October 7, 1992, the Lightning played their first regular season game at Tampa's Expo Hall, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 with Chris Kontos scoring four goals.
1992: Tampa Bay Lightning Become First Team Since 1992 to Beat 3 Original Six Teams in Playoffs
In 1992, the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team to beat three of the Original Six teams in the playoffs since the Pittsburgh Penguins completed the feat in 1992.
1992: Islanders End Playoff Drought
In 1992-93, the New York Islanders won their first playoff series since the 1992-93 season, defeating the Florida Panthers.
1992: Initial Jersey Font
The Lightning's original jerseys in 1992-93 featured a unique block font for player names and standard block numbers with drop shadows.
1993: Bobby "The Chief" Taylor's Debut
Bobby "The Chief" Taylor began his tenure as the Lightning's color commentator in 1993.
1993: Italicized Jersey Font
In 1993-94, the Lightning italicized the block font used for player names on their jerseys.
1993: Lightning Move to the ThunderDome
In the 1993-1994 season, the Lightning moved to the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division and into the Florida Suncoast Dome in St. Petersburg, renamed the "ThunderDome."
1993: Demers Wins Stanley Cup with Canadiens
Jacques Demers, who would later coach the Tampa Bay Lightning, led the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup victory in 1993.
1994: Lightning Finish Last in the Atlantic Division
Despite acquiring players like goaltender Daren Puppa, left wing Petr Klima, and veteran forward Denis Savard, the Lightning finished last in the Atlantic Division in the 1993-1994 season.
1994: Lockout Results in Shortened Season
In 1994, the NHL lockout, similar to the 2012-13 lockout, resulted in a shortened season, impacting the Tampa Bay Lightning's schedule.
1994: IRS Investigation
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched an investigation into the Tampa Bay Lightning's financial dealings in 1994, raising concerns about the team's ownership and financial stability.
1995: IRS Investigation Continued
The IRS continued to investigate the Tampa Bay Lightning's finances in 1995.
1995: Rick Peckham's Television Debut
In 1995, Rick Peckham began his tenure as the Lightning's television play-by-play announcer.
1995: Lightning Reach Playoffs for the First Time
In the 1995-1996 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning qualified for the playoffs for the first time. Key contributions came from Brian Bradley's team-leading 79 points, Alexander Selivanov's 31 goals, and Roman Hamrlik's performance in defense.
1995: Record-Setting Season
In 1995, the Detroit Red Wings set an NHL record with 62 wins in a season.
1996: Introduction of Third Jersey
For the 1996-97 season, the Lightning introduced a third jersey with a blue, wave and rain design. It was retired after the 1998-99 season.
1996: Lightning move into a New Arena
In 1996, the Tampa Bay Lightning moved into a new arena in downtown Tampa called the Ice Palace. This arena was later renamed the St. Pete Times Forum, then the Tampa Bay Times Forum, and is now known as Amalie Arena.
1996: New Jersey Fonts Introduced
In the 1996-97 season, the Lightning updated their jersey fonts. The name font changed to a vertically arched block font, and the number font became a painted style resembling the "Tampa Bay" lettering in the logo.
1997: Lightning's Losing Streak
During the 1997-1998 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning had a dismal record, losing 55 games under coach Jacques Demers.
1997: Lightning's Financial Nightmare
In 1997, Forbes published an article describing the Tampa Bay Lightning's financial situation as a "nightmare", highlighting the team's massive debt and unfavorable arena lease.
1998: Blue Alternate Jersey Font Change
For the 1998-99 season, the Lightning replaced the "electrified" number font on their blue alternate jerseys with a painted style that resembled the "Tampa Bay" lettering in their logo. This font was initially introduced in the 1995-96 season.
1998: NHL considers taking control of the Lightning
In 1998, The NHL considered taking control of the Tampa Bay Lightning due to concerns about the team's financial stability and the ownership of Kokusai Green.
1998: William Davidson Almost Buys Lightning
In 1998, William Davidson, the owner of the Detroit Pistons, was considered a leading candidate to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, the team was ultimately sold to Art Williams.
1998: Crisp Fired, Demers Hired
In 1998, the Tampa Bay Lightning fired head coach Crisp 11 games into the 1997-1998 season. He was replaced by Jacques Demers who had previously coached the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens.
1998: Lightning's Losing Streak Continues
In the early part of the 1998-1999 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a ten-game losing streak, effectively ending their chances of reaching the playoffs.
1998: Kokusai Green Sells Lightning to Art Williams
Kokusai Green sold the Tampa Bay Lightning to Art Williams, an insurance tycoon and motivational speaker, in 1998. The team was burdened by $102 million in debt at the time of the sale.
1998: Retirement of Third Jersey
The Lightning retired their third jersey with a blue, wave and rain design after the 1998-99 season.
December 1999: Bradley Retires
December 1999, after suffering a series of concussions, Lightning player Bradley retired from professional hockey.
1999: Williams Sells Lightning to William Davidson
In 1999, Art Williams sold the Tampa Bay Lightning to William Davidson, the owner of the Detroit Pistons, for $115 million, only $2 million less than he had paid for the team a year earlier.
2000: Puppa Retires
After struggling with back trouble that limited his playing time, Puppa retired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000. He had only played a total of 50 games since 1996.
2000: Lightning's Lowest Point Total Since 2000-01 Season
In 2000, the Tampa Bay Lightning achieved their lowest points total since the 2000-01 season.
2001: Return to Traditional Fonts and Color Change
In the 2001-02 season, the Lightning reverted to traditional block letters and numbers on their jerseys. They also changed their shade of blue from royal blue to a darker speed blue.
2003: Lightning Win First Atlantic Division Title Since 2003-04 Season
The Tampa Bay Lightning had a successful 2017-18 season, finishing with a 54-23-5 record, securing 113 points, and winning their first Atlantic Division title since the 2003-04 season. This also earned them the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.
2003: Record-Breaking Crowd at Stanley Cup Playoffs Game
The crowd of 28,183 at Game 3 of the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers was the largest crowd for an NHL game until the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton. It remains the largest crowd at a Stanley Cup playoffs game.
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning's Trade Deadline Moves
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lighting were active during the trade deadline, acquiring players such as Kyle Wanvig, Stephen Baby, Shane O'Brien, Filip Kuba, Luke Richardson, and Doug Janik. They also traded Nikita Alexeev and claimed Andre Roy off waivers.
2004: Previous Stanley Cup Win
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning achieved their first Stanley Cup championship victory.
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning Advance to Stanley Cup Finals
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to their first Stanley Cup Finals since 2004.
2004: First Stanley Cup Championship
The Tampa Bay Lightning achieved their first Stanley Cup victory in 2004.
2004: Lightning Wins First Playoff Series Since 2004 Stanley Cup
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning won their first playoff series since their Stanley Cup victory in 2004. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Conference Quarterfinals, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. They then went on to sweep the top-seeded Washington Capitals in the Conference Semifinals.
2006: Brian Bradley's Record Broken
Brian Bradley's record of 42 goals, set during the 1992-1993 season, stood as a team record until the 2006-2007 season.
2006: Lightning Returns to Playoffs After 2006-07 Season
In 2006, the Tampa Bay Lightning returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
2006: Lightning's Overtime/Shootout Success
In the 2006 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning excelled in overtime and shootout periods, winning 15 games. However, their performance in these situations declined significantly in the following season.
April 6, 2007: Lightning Lose to Panthers, Miss Division Title
On April 6, 2007, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Florida Panthers, missing the opportunity to overtake the Atlanta Thrashers for the Southeast Division title. This loss resulted in the Lightning securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.
August 7, 2007: Absolute Hockey Enterprises Signs Purchase Agreement for Lightning
On August 7, 2007, Absolute Hockey Enterprises, led by Doug MacLean, signed an agreement to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning and the lease to their arena. Despite plans to keep the team in Tampa, the deal fell through during the following season.
August 25, 2007: New Lightning Logo Unveiled
On August 25, 2007, the Lightning unveiled a new team logo with a modernized look, featuring tall capital initials for "Tampa Bay" and removing the word "Lightning" from the bottom.
2007: Lightning's Overtime/Shootout Struggles
In the 2007 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning struggled in overtime and shootout periods, winning only three games and losing nine, a significant drop from their success in the previous season.
2007: Reebok Edge Jerseys and Logo Update
In 2007-08, the Lightning, along with all other NHL teams, introduced Reebok "Rbk Edge" jerseys. The Lightning also updated their team logo.
2007: Tampa Bay Lightning Struggle to Maintain Success
During the 2007 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning struggled to maintain their previous success. Despite strong performances from star players like Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, and Vaclav Prospal, the team lacked consistent contributions from other players.
February 13, 2008: Lightning Sold to OK Hockey LLC
On February 13, 2008, Palace Sports & Entertainment sold the Tampa Bay Lightning to OK Hockey LLC, a group led by Oren Koules and Len Barrie.
July 4, 2008: Lightning Trade Dan Boyle to San Jose Sharks
On July 4, 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Dan Boyle, despite his recent contract extension, to the San Jose Sharks. The trade involved players Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, and draft picks. The trade sparked controversy, with Boyle criticizing the Lightning's ownership and former coach John Tortorella expressing his disapproval of their actions. This led to the resignation of general manager Jay Feaster.
October 21, 2008: Barry Melrose Records First Win in Over 13 Years
On October 21, 2008, Barry Melrose achieved his first win as a head coach in over 13 years, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. Despite this early win, the Lightning struggled, and Melrose was subsequently fired, with Rick Tocchet stepping up as interim head coach.
2008: Lightning Secure First Overall Pick, Select Steven Stamkos
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning finished with the worst record in the NHL, giving them the highest chance of winning the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. They won the draft lottery and used their pick to select Steven Stamkos, who was expected to become a key player for the franchise.
2008: John Tortorella Fired, Barry Melrose Hired as Lightning Coach
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning fired head coach John Tortorella after their worst season since his hiring. Former NHL player and coach Barry Melrose, who had expressed his desire to return to coaching, was chosen as the Lightning's new head coach.
2008: Lightning Opens Season in Czech Republic
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning opened their season in the Czech Republic with a game against the New York Rangers, as part of the NHL's "Premiere" series that sees selected teams opening their season in Europe.
2008: Lightning Active at Trade Deadline
In 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning were active during the trade deadline, making significant moves such as trading Vaclav Prospal to the Philadelphia Flyers and Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars. They also traded Jan Hlavac to the Nashville Predators and re-signed Dan Boyle to a six-year contract extension.
2008: New Alternate Jersey Unveiled
In the 2008-09 season, the Lightning debuted a new alternate jersey featuring an "electric blue" color, black and silver accents, and the word "BOLTS" emblazoned across the front, replacing the logo.
2009: Rick Tocchet Becomes Full-Time Head Coach
In 2009, Rick Tocchet, who was serving as the interim head coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, was officially given the full-time head coach position and signed a multi-year contract with the team.
2009: Lightning Drafts Victor Hedman
In 2009, The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman with the second overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Hedman would become a cornerstone player for the franchise for many years to come.
2009: Lightning Active at Trade Deadline
In 2009, the Tampa Bay Lightning were active during the trade deadline, making significant moves such as trading Vaclav Prospal to the Philadelphia Flyers and Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars. They also traded Jan Hlavac to the Nashville Predators and re-signed Dan Boyle to a six-year contract extension.
2009: Lightning Trade Dan Boyle to San Jose Sharks
On July 4, 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Dan Boyle, despite his recent contract extension, to the San Jose Sharks. The trade involved players Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, and draft picks. The trade sparked controversy, with Boyle criticizing the Lightning's ownership and former coach John Tortorella expressing his disapproval of their actions. This led to the resignation of general manager Jay Feaster.
April 12, 2010: Tocchet and Lawton Fired
On April 12, 2010, after a late-season collapse resulted in the Tampa Bay Lightning missing the playoffs, new owner Jeffrey Vinik decided to clean house. He fired both head coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton.
May 2010: Yzerman Hired as GM, Boucher as Head Coach
In May 2010, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik made significant changes to the team's leadership. He hired Steve Yzerman, who had previously worked in the Detroit Red Wings front office, as the new general manager, offering him a five-year contract. Two weeks later, Yzerman appointed Guy Boucher, from the Montreal Canadiens organization, as the head coach.
July 1, 2010: Lightning Makes Trades and Signings
On July 1, 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning engaged in several significant trades and signings. They traded Andrej Meszaros to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. They also traded Matt Walker and a fourth-round pick in 2011 to the Flyers for winger Simon Gagne. Additionally, the team signed several players, including forwards Sean Bergenheim, Dominic Moore, and Marc-Antoine Pouliot, defensemen Brett Clark, Randy Jones, and Pavel Kubina, goaltender Dan Ellis, and re-signed Steve Downie.
2010: Lightning Trade Dan Boyle to San Jose Sharks
On July 4, 2008, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Dan Boyle, despite his recent contract extension, to the San Jose Sharks. The trade involved players Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, and draft picks. The trade sparked controversy, with Boyle criticizing the Lightning's ownership and former coach John Tortorella expressing his disapproval of their actions. This led to the resignation of general manager Jay Feaster.
2010: Lightning's Color and Logo Change
Starting in the 2010 season, the Lightning adopted a new color scheme of blue, black, and white, and a new logo featuring a stylized lightning bolt, giving rise to the team's "Bolts" nickname.
2010: Lightning Matches Franchise Record for Wins
In 2010, the Tampa Bay Lighting matched the franchise record for wins in a single season.
January 23, 2011: Logo and Color Change Filing
On January 23, 2011, the Lightning officially filed paperwork with the NHL to change their logo and team colors, to be implemented in the 2011-12 season.
January 31, 2011: New Logo and Jerseys Unveiled
On January 31, 2011, the Lightning held a press conference at the St. Pete Times Forum to unveil their new logo, home jersey, and away jersey.
February 4, 2011: Partial Implementation of New Branding
Starting on February 4, 2011, the Lightning began incorporating their new simplified logo on center ice and distributed free T-shirts with the new logo, while continuing to use the old logo and uniforms.
2011: Tampa Bay Lightning Advance to Eastern Conference Finals
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2011.
2011: Tampa Bay Lightning Return to Playoffs
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
2011: Lightning Misses Playoffs
In 2011, The Tampa Bay Lightning finished the season with a 38-36-8 record, accumulating 84 points and missing the playoffs. They finished third in the Southeast Division and tenth in the Eastern Conference.
2012: Lockout Results in Shortened Season
In 2012, the NHL lockout resulted in a shortened 48-game season for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2012: Traditional Uniform Design with Black Trim
The Lightning's current uniforms, introduced in the 2012-13 season, feature a traditional hockey sweater design in blue and white. Due to popular demand, black trim was added to the numbers. The victory stripes were also removed. The previous third jersey was retained but updated with the new simplified logo.
March 2013: Jon Cooper Becomes Head Coach
In March 2013, Jon Cooper was appointed as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, beginning his tenure as the longest-tenured active head coach in the NHL.
March 25, 2013: Guy Boucher Dismissed, Jon Cooper Becomes Head Coach
On March 25, 2013, following a disappointing 7-16-1 record, the Tampa Bay Lightning dismissed head coach Guy Boucher. The team then announced Jon Cooper, who had been coaching their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, as the eighth head coach in franchise history.
June 27, 2013: Lightning Buys Out Vincent Lecavalier's Contract
On June 27, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they were using one of their two "compliance buyouts" on captain Vincent Lecavalier, as allowed by the collective bargaining agreement. This made Lecavalier an unrestricted free agent starting July 5th of that year. The team clarified that the decision was based on the impact of Lecavalier's contract on the salary cap, not due to his on-ice performance. His contract would have accounted for over $7 million per year until its expiration after the 2019-20 season.
November 11, 2013: Steven Stamkos Suffers Broken Tibia
On November 11, 2013, while tied for most goals scored during the regular season, Steven Stamkos suffered a broken right tibia after crashing into the goalpost during a game against the Boston Bruins.
2013: Sonya Bryson-Kirksey Begins Singing US National Anthem at Lightning Games
Retired United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Sonya Bryson-Kirksey began singing the US national anthem at Tampa Bay Lightning home games in 2013.
March 5, 2014: Stamkos Returns From Injury
On March 5, 2014, Steven Stamkos was cleared to play again after recovering from a broken tibia he suffered on November 11, 2013.
March 6, 2014: Steven Stamkos Named Tampa Bay Captain
On March 6, 2014, Steven Stamkos was named Tampa Bay's 10th captain in his first game back after recovering from a tibia injury.
April 7, 2014: Steve Yzerman Signs Contract Extension
On April 7, 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that GM Steve Yzerman had signed a four-year contract extension.
June 25, 2014: Ryan Callahan Signs Extension; Ryan Malone Bought Out
On June 25, 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to a six-year, $34.8 million contract extension with Ryan Callahan. The same day, the Lightning used its remaining compliance buyout on forward Ryan Malone.
September 27, 2014: Lightning Unveils New Black Third Sweater
On September 27, 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning unveiled a new black third sweater to replace the existing 'BOLTS' sweaters for the 2014-15 season. The new sweater retained the 'BOLTS' wordmark, added white accents, and replaced the primary logo with the secondary roundel logo on the sleeves.
December 10, 2014: Bobby "The Chief" Taylor Retirement Announcement
On December 10, 2014, long-time Lightning color commentator Bobby "The Chief" Taylor announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2014-15 season, after serving in the role since the 1993-94 season. He transitioned to a studio analyst role.
2014: Tampa Bay Lightning Qualify for Playoffs
In 2014, the Tampa Bay Lightning placed second in the Atlantic Division and qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season.
August 11, 2015: Brian Engblom Named Color Commentator
On August 11, 2015, Brian Engblom was named as the Lightning's color commentator, replacing Bobby "The Chief" Taylor, on Fox Sports Sun.
2015: Stanley Cup Finalists
The Tampa Bay Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015.
2015: Lightning Reach Stanley Cup Finals
In 2015, the Tampa Bay Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since that year.
2015: Lightning win Stanley Cup in their own arena
The Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2021 in their own arena. This was the second time in team history they achieved this feat, and the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks did it in 2015.
2015: Controversial Season for the Lightning
The 2015-16 season was a controversial one for the Tampa Bay Lightning, marked by contractual disputes with captain Steven Stamkos and a trade request and suspension of former third overall pick Jonathan Drouin.
2015: Martin St. Louis Traded to New York Rangers
In 2015, Martin St. Louis requested a trade from Tampa Bay and was subsequently traded to the New York Rangers on March 5, 2014 in exchange for Ryan Callahan, a 2015 first-round draft pick, a conditional 2014 second-round pick, and a 2015 conditional seventh-round pick.
March 5, 2016: Lightning Set Franchise Record with Nine Consecutive Wins
On March 5, 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with nine consecutive wins after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime. Alex Killorn scored the game-winning goal with 42.5 seconds remaining.
March 26, 2016: Anton Stralman Suffers Fractured Leg
On March 26, 2016, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman suffered a fractured leg during a game against the New York Islanders.
2016: Lightning Make Key Signings in the Off-Season
During the 2016 offseason, the Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed key players, including an eight-year contract for captain Steven Stamkos, an eight-year contract for defenseman Victor Hedman, a seven-year deal for Alex Killorn, and a three-year deal for goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Jonathan Drouin also rescinded his trade request.
2016: Lightning Narrowly Miss Playoffs Amidst Injuries and Trades
The Tampa Bay Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs in the 2016-17 season, finishing with 94 points, one point behind the second wild card spot held by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The season was plagued by injuries, notably to captain Steven Stamkos who suffered a torn meniscus. The Lightning also traded players like goaltender Ben Bishop, center Brian Boyle, and forward Valtteri Filppula. However, there were positive signs as Nikita Kucherov scored 40 goals and Andrei Vasilevskiy emerged as a strong goaltender.
2017: Lightning Does Not Use Third Sweater
The Tampa Bay Lighting did not use a third sweater during the 2017-18 NHL season.
2017: Stamkos Returns from Injury with Strong Performance
In the 2017-18 season, Steven Stamkos returned from injury and made a strong impact, scoring 20 points in the first 10 games and assisting on nine of Nikita Kucherov's 11 goals.
September 11, 2018: Steve Yzerman Resigns
On September 11, 2018, Steve Yzerman announced his resignation as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Julien BriseBois taking his place.
2018: Lightning Trade Drouin for Sergachev
In the 2018 offseason, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Jonathan Drouin to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defensive prospect Mikhail Sergachev and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Lightning also signed defenseman Dan Girardi for two years and winger Chris Kunitz to a one-year deal.
2018: Lightning Reach Eastern Conference Finals
In the 2018 playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but were defeated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Washington Capitals, in seven games. Prior to that, the Lightning eliminated the New Jersey Devils in the first round and the Boston Bruins in the second round, both in five games. Andrei Vasilevskiy was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. Nikita Kucherov scored 100 points during the regular season, finishing third overall in the league. Steve Yzerman was once again nominated for the NHL General Manager of the Year Award.
2018: Lightning Does Not Use Third Sweater For Most of the Season
The Tampa Bay Lighting did not use a third sweater for most of the 2018-19 NHL season.
February 7, 2019: Lightning Unveils New Black Uniform
On February 7, 2019, the Tampa Bay Lightning unveiled a new black uniform, featuring sublimated black and grey patterns, after not using a third sweater for the entirety of the 2017-18 season and much of the 2018-19 season.
2019: Lightning fail to reach Eastern Conference finals
For the first time since 2019, the Lightning failed to win the Eastern Conference Finals.
2019: Rick Peckham's Retirement Announcement
In 2019, Rick Peckham announced his intention to retire from broadcasting following the 2019-20 season.
2019: Lecavalier's Contract Set to Expire
In 2019, Vincent Lecavalier's contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning was set to expire, prompting the team's decision to buy out his contract in 2013 to manage their salary cap.
2019: Lightning Girls Disbanded
The Tampa Bay Lightning Girls dance team, who performed at home games and community events, was disbanded before the start of the 2019-20 season.
March 12, 2020: NHL Season Suspended
On March 12, 2020, the NHL suspended its season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the Tampa Bay Lightning were second in their conference with a 43-21-6 record.
December 2020: Nikita Kucherov undergoes hip surgery
In December 2020, Nikita Kucherov underwent hip surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2020-21 regular season.
2020: Lightning Releases 'Reverse Retro' Uniform
In 2020, for the 2020-21 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning released a 'Reverse Retro' uniform which used their 2001 to 2007 design but used blue as the base color instead of black.
2020: Lightning Win Stanley Cup
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning won their second Stanley Cup championship and their first since 2004.
2020: Rick Peckham's Retirement and Dave Randorf's Debut
Rick Peckham retired as the Lightning's television play-by-play announcer in 2020 after the team's playoff run. Dave Randorf was named his replacement for the 2020-21 season.
2020: Lightning carry over playoff series clinching shutout streak
The Lightning extended their playoff series clinching shutout streak from the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals against Dallas into the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Florida Panthers.
2020: Second Stanley Cup Championship
The Tampa Bay Lightning secured their second Stanley Cup championship in 2020.
2020: Sonya Bryson-Kirksey Begins Singing Canadian National Anthem at Lightning Games
In 2020, Sonya Bryson-Kirksey began singing the Canadian national anthem at Tampa Bay Lightning home games in addition to the US national anthem.
2020: Boat Parade Tradition
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning inaugurated a new tradition for the city's sports teams by holding a boat parade on the Hillsborough River to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory. This replaced the traditional street parade, primarily due to COVID-19 regulations.
2021: Patrick Maroon wins his third consecutive Stanley Cup
Patrick Maroon won his third consecutive Stanley Cup in 2021, one with the St. Louis Blues and two with the Lightning.
2021: Third Stanley Cup Championship
The Tampa Bay Lightning won their third Stanley Cup in 2021.
2021: Brayden Point's nine-game playoff goal streak
In the third game of the second round of the 2021 playoffs, Brayden Point began a goal-scoring streak that would last for 9 games, coming in second to Reggie Leach's 10 games in a single playoff year.
2021: Roster Changes
In 2021, the Tampa Bay Lightning saw several roster changes, including trades, signings, and a career-ending diagnosis.
2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy wins Conn Smythe Trophy with five shutouts
Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 with 5 shutouts during the playoffs, 4 of which were series-clinching shutouts.
February 26, 2022: Lightning play their first outdoor game
On February 26, 2022, the Lightning played their first outdoor game in franchise history against the host Nashville Predators in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium, which the Lightning won 3-2.
April 14, 2022: Lightning clinch a playoff berth
On April 14, 2022, the Lightning clinched a playoff berth after a 4–3 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks.
June 11, 2022: Lightning clinch their third straight Stanley Cup Finals berth
On June 11, 2022, the Lightning clinched their third straight Stanley Cup Finals berth after a 2–1 win against the New York Rangers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals.
2022: Lightning Unveils Uniform for 2022 NHL Stadium Series
For the 2022 NHL Stadium Series, the Tampa Bay Lightning unveiled a new white uniform that featured a stylized blue stripe shaped like a thunderbolt at the bottom, an updated 'BOLTS' wordmark stitched in front, and numbers with pointed accents.
2022: Lightning Releases Second 'Reverse Retro' Uniform
For the 2022-23 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning released a second 'Reverse Retro' uniform which was inspired by the third jersey worn from 1996 to 1999 but used a white base.
2022: Radio Broadcast Change
In 2022, WHPT replaced WFLA as the Lightning's flagship radio outlet.
2022: Stanley Cup Finalists and Playoff Streak Ends
The Tampa Bay Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2022, marking the end of their 11 consecutive playoff series wins between 2020 and 2022 with a loss against Colorado Avalanche.
2023: Lightning Unveils New Black Alternate Uniform
For the 2023-24 season, the Tampa Bay Lighting unveiled a new black alternate uniform with the roundel logo as the main crest, 'victory stripes' on the sleeves, and white numbers with black trim and blue drop shadows inspired by the team's first uniforms.
2023: Lightning become the first team to lose three overtime playoff games at home
In the 2023 playoffs, the Lightning became the first team in Stanley Cup playoffs history to lose three overtime games at home.
May 1, 2024: Information Updated
Information was updated on May 1, 2024.
2024: Lightning eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the first round
In the 2024 playoffs, the Lightning, qualified as a wild card, were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in five games in the first round.