top of page
All Posts


Raddysh Departs for Toronto; Bolts Acquire Draft Pick
Darren Raddysh bid farewell to Tampa as the Lightning traded the defenseman to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday. The Lightning acquire a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Mike Smith
17 hours ago2 min read


Kucherov Wins Hart Memorial Trophy as League MVP
Win or lose, Nikita Kucherov has been known to hit the practice ice quickly once the offseason comes to hone his skills and prepare for the upcoming fall. Teammates and other NHL players line up for the opportunity to join the talented forward. He was surprised at practice recently by a special guest waiting for him at the Lightning's practice facility:
The Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to Kucherov for being voted the National Hockey League's Most Valuable Player for the 202

Mike Smith
Jun 114 min read


Winning the Game, Losing the Score – Why Analytics Matter
Image Credit: Michelle Gordon | Thunderstruck Sports Four straight seasons. Four straight first-round exits—cue all the armchair general managers in the Tampa Bay area... the window has closed! The core has aged out! Cooper has lost the room! It's time to tear it all down! But let's slow down and take a breath. Yes, the Lightning lost to the Montreal Canadiens in round one, and yes, results matter. However, results don't always tell the whole story in hockey. This is where un
Michelle Gordon
Jun 73 min read


Vasilevskiy Earns Second Vezina Trophy Award With Aid From Police K-9
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy found himself in a potential legal quandary last week when the Tampa Police Department arrived at Benchmark International Arena looking for him. Officers met with the Bolts netminder after a morning workout to investigate suspicious activity involving his car.

Mike Smith
Jun 62 min read


Cooper Earns Top Coaching Honors, Wins 2026 Jack Adams Award
You can add one more accolade to the long list of accomplishments for Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper: 2026 Jack Adams Award winner for "contributing the most to his team's success."

Mike Smith
Jun 32 min read


The Weight of the Warrior
Claude Lemieux was a hockey player, controversial to some, a hero to others. On the ice, he was a fierce competitor. He lifted the Stanley Cup four times, a feat that more than validates his place in hockey history. He entered the league in an era when physicality reigned supreme, and he thrived, even as the game evolved around him.
Ernie Norquist
May 283 min read


Cooper Remains In Charge Despite Recent Playoff Woes
Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Cooper is the longest-serving coach in the NHL, having joined the Lightning in March 2013. In January, the two-time Stanley Cup champion became the third-fastest coach to reach 500 wins, and the quickest to do so with one franchise. Despite four consecutive first-round playoff exits leading to murmurs from dissatisfied fans, the team has a response for those advocating for a coaching change behind the Bolts' bench:
"Coop" isn't going anywhere.

Mike Smith
May 146 min read


After Breakthrough Year, Will Raddysh Stay or Will He Go?
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakthrough year in 2025-26. Scoring 22 goals, Raddysh broke the team record for most goals scored by a defenseman. He also grounded a Tampa Bay defense mired by injuries, and found his niche on the Bolts' power play unit. Raddysh has also quickly become a fan favorite. As he enters free agency this offseason, one question remains: Will he stay in Tampa Bay, or will he find fortune elsewhere?

Mike Smith
May 115 min read


Kucherov Responds to Critics, Won't Discuss Re-signing
Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Nikita Kucherov has been in this position before: Leading the NHL in several scoring categories, only to have his performance fall short in the playoffs. After another first-round elimination, this time at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, Kucherov spent this week answering his critics while not commenting on the possibility of returning to the team after his contract expires in 2027.

Mike Smith
May 87 min read


Vasilevskiy Airs Grievances, Gets Brutally Honest Regarding Bolts' Early Exit
The Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up what many would consider a successful regular season: 50 wins with 106 points, good enough for second place in the very competitive Atlantic Division. However, another early first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs has left many with a sour taste in their mouths, including Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy's.

Mike Smith
May 73 min read


Mood Swings of a 2025-2026 Lightning Fan
Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports The Mood Swings If you're a Tampa Bay Lightning fan, you know that the 2025-2026 season was anything but predictable. You lived it in mood swings-- wild, whiplash-inducing mood swings that swung from championship confidence to existential despair and back again, sometimes within the same week. One night, this team looked like a juggernaut destined for greatness. The next, it felt like everything was unraveling. And somehow, t
Michelle Gordon
May 74 min read


Hedman Opens Up About Absence, Mental Health Challenges
Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Victor Hedman spoke to the media Tuesday morning, saying he stepped away from the team and sport he loves to focus on his mental health. Already an advocate of mental health awareness, the 35-year-old defenseman called the decision difficult but necessary.

Mike Smith
May 63 min read


Dobeš, Newhook, and Two Bad Bounces Doom Another Lightning Postseason
Imagine having 29 shots on net and holding your opponent to only nine in a decisive Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, only to lose the game and have your season ended. That's exactly what happened to the Tampa Bay Lightning Sunday night when Jakub Dobes and the Montreal Canadiens eliminated them, 2-1.

Mike Smith
May 47 min read


Season Ends as Bolts Drop Game 7 Despite Valiant Effort
It was do or die tonight as the Lightning hosted the Montreal Canadiens for a winner-take-all game 7. Unfortunately for the Tampa Bay Lightning, their season came to an end despite a valiant effort. Tampa Bay was the better team throughout the game tonight, but just couldn't find the back of the net when they needed to.
Michelle Gordon
May 32 min read


Lightning Not Just Trying to Keep Momentum Going, But Instill the Right Mindset Entering Decisive Game 7
Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens will face off in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series. As game time approaches, both teams have a clear goal: to advance to the second round. However, there's something more as this heated rivalry comes to a head at Benchmark International Arena:
The Tampa Bay Lightning aim to continue their legacy, while the Montreal Canadiens are looking to begin theirs.

Mike Smith
May 34 min read


Vasilevskiy Shows Why He is Still The Best with Stellar Game 6 Performance
Questions abounded in the days leading up to Friday night's crucial Game 6 regarding the effectiveness and performance of Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Is he not living up to the series' expectations? Is he past his prime? Is "The Big Cat" no longer the threat he once was during the Stanley Cup Championship years?
After a dominating performance at the Bell Centre on Friday night, it can be confirmed that Vasilevskiy is doing just fine.

Mike Smith
May 25 min read


One More Heartbeat: Lightning Survive Bell Centre and Drag Series Back to Tampa
Elimination games do not walk quietly into this city. Not inside Bell Centre. Not with all that history hanging from the rafters. Not with a young Montreal Canadiens team feeding off a building that knows exactly what playoff pressure sounds like when it starts shaking the walls.
Ernie Norquist
May 16 min read


With Their Backs Against The Wall, Lightning Need to Come Out Fighting in Game 6
The Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in an all too familiar position headed into Game 6 at the Bell Centre on Friday night: facing early elimination and a trip to the offseason. After a disappointing Game 5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at home on Wednesday night, the Lightning must find a way to put together 60 great minutes of hockey, or spend the next five months wondering 'what could have been.'

Mike Smith
May 15 min read


Canadiens Overpower Lightning to Take Control of Series
Alexandre Texier scored the game-winning goal early in the third period as the Montreal Canadiens upended the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night, 3-2. Brendan Gallagher returned to the Habs lineup for the first time in the playoffs to score early in the game, and Kirby Dach added a goal in the second period. The win puts Montreal in control of the Eastern Conference First Round series with a 3-2 lead, and the teams head back north on Friday for Game 6.

Mike Smith
Apr 305 min read


Resiliency is Key as Bolts Look Ahead to Crucial Game 5
If there is one great takeaway from Sunday night's 3-2 comeback win against the Montreal Canadiens, it's that the Tampa Bay Lightning aren't lacking in heart, determination, and resiliency. Facing a two-goal deficit in a hostile environment, the Bolts found a way to win Game 4 at the Bell Centre and regain the advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round.

Mike Smith
Apr 295 min read
bottom of page