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Bolts Down Preds as Part of Fast-Paced Training Camp Weekend
Ilya Mikheyev scored early, and Conor Geekie added the game-winning goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Nashville Predators, 2-1, Sunday night in a preseason matchup at Benchmark International Arena. The game wrapped up a fast-paced opening weekend of training camp for the Bolts and featured a mix of team veterans and prospects looking to fill out the final roster.

Mike Smith
2 days ago3 min read


Bolts Open Training Camp With Renewed Hopes, Fast Pace, and Surprise Injuries
The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2026-27 season with an invigorating first day of training camp Thursday. As 67 players ran drills and shook off the rust, the Bolts entered the Brandon TGH Ice Plex with renewed hope that the playoff demon that has plagued them for the past four seasons could be exorcised this year.

Mike Smith
4 days ago6 min read


Lightning Add Carlson, Deal Paul As Free Agency Begins
The Tampa Bay Lightning had an active first day of free agency as the 2026-27 season got underway on Wednesday, right up until the clock struck midnight. The Bolts signed two forwards, one huge late-night signing in defenseman John Carlson, and a new backup goalie.

Mike Smith
Jul 26 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


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 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


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


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


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


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


Where Were We? A Handful of Takeaways On Eve of Massive Game Five
A fired-up Brandon Hagel looks on in Game 2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning's series against the Montreal Canadiens. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports A playoff series in the National Hockey League is more than just a best-of-seven decision. It's a battle of attrition. It's a fight to the bitter end. More than that, it's cinema. Like every good film, the Lightning vs. Canadiens first-round bout has been full of highs and lows. Heroes and villains. Playing the role
Riley Gillespie-Wilson
Apr 284 min read


Hagel Plays Hero Again as Bolts Battle Back to Knot Up Series
The Tampa Bay Lightning gave the Montreal Canadiens a taste of their own medicine in the fourth game of their playoff series. The Habs, the season's cardiac kids, were nursing a 2-0 lead through nearly 40 minutes of play at Bell Centre Sunday night. That's when Jake Guentzel happened, and Brandon Hagel took it from there, driving the bus to a 3-2 Bolts win that evened the series up at 2-2.
Riley Gillespie-Wilson
Apr 266 min read


The Tampa Bay Lightning: A Must-Win Game 4 Against the Montreal Canadiens
The Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in a situation as they enter Sunday night's Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens. Losing two of the three games, including one at home, has the team in a must-win situation tonight at the Bell Centre. With both teams evenly matched, Montreal has found a way to lead and control the series' tempo. But there is one thing that the Canadiens can't control that can help the Lightning claw back into the series:
The Lightning must find that d

Mike Smith
Apr 264 min read


Moser Scores in Overtime to Give Lightning Win Over Montreal
J.J. Moser scored at 12:48 of overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a much-needed win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round over the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night, 3-2. The victory evens the series at 1-1 as the best-of-seven matchup moves to Montreal Friday night.

Mike Smith
Apr 226 min read


Rocky Start Doesn't Mean the End For Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves in an all-too-familiar situation after Sunday evening's loss to the Montreal Canadiens in overtime: in an early series deficit. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater quite yet. It's only the first game, and there's still a great deal of hockey left to be played.

Mike Smith
Apr 206 min read


Lightning Look To Apply Hard Lessons Learned as the Stanley Cup Playoffs Arrive
On the eve of the Round One matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Bolts are focused on entering this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs with one major thought in mind:
Do not repeat the sins of the past three postseasons.

Mike Smith
Apr 185 min read


Kartye Scores Twice, Rangers Down Lightning in Regular Season Finale
Tye Kartye had two goals and an assist as the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular season finale, 4-2. Mika Zibanejad added a goal and an assist.
Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry both scored for the Lightning. The loss was their fourth in the last six games as the Lightning struggled to put together consistent play at the conclusion of the season.

Mike Smith
Apr 163 min read


Cirelli, Lightning Power Past Pittsburgh to Retake Atlantic Division Lead
Anthony Cirelli earned a hat trick, and Zemgus Girgensons scored the game-winning goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night, 6-3. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists.
The win placed the Lightning back in a tie for first place with the Buffalo Sabres in the very competitive Atlantic Division.

Mike Smith
Apr 34 min read
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