John Carlson scored twice, and Dennis Hildeby played spectacularly in net as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Thursday night. Nikita Kucherov notched two more assists, continuing his opening-season point streak. The win was the Bolts' third straight, capping a three-game home stand.

Image Credit: Michelle Gordon | Thunderstruck Sports Once again, the Atlantic Division is shaping up as possibly the best division in the National Hockey League. It's a division that always seems to be full of surprises. No one was predicting the Buffalo Sabres to finish first last season. Will we be more accurate this year, or will this be another year of the unexpected? Here's how our staffers see it: Patrick Williams– writer: 1. Tampa Bay Lightning– Why: I'm still not bett

The Tampa Bay Lightning open the regular season tonight on a mission: to overcome past mistakes and build on their experiences. Considered one of the favorites to win a competitive Atlantic Division, the Bolts know time is precious. As the team opens with a visit to New York to face the Rangers, hope and excitement certainly wear Tampa Bay blue and white.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced the club’s season-opening roster for the 2026-27 NHL season today. Tampa Bay’s roster includes 15 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Bolts Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois also announced that forward Benjamin Rautiainen has been loaned to Tappara of the Finnish Liiga.

Benjamin Rautiainen scored a power play goal, then scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning came back to defeat the Florida Panthers, 3-2. Lucas Mercuri added a goal in his first appearance with the Bolts.

The Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their final preseason warm-up Saturday morning before heading to South Florida to face the Florida Panthers. The game will cap a grueling two weeks of training camp, where 67 players vied for a spot on the team's 23-player roster.

The Tampa Bay Lightning spent Wednesday's training camp session preparing for another round of the Battle of Florida against the Panthers. While the Bolts expect to play most of their veterans Thursday night, Florida will bring a roster of prospects to Tampa. The Lightning also waived backup goalie Johan Johanssen.

The Tampa Bay Lightning controlled much of the play in the second preseason game against the Nashville Predators, but sloppy late turnovers ultimately led to a 3-2 overtime loss. With many of the team's marquee names staying home, the Bolts' pipeline prospects had a golden opportunity to make their case for staying up with the club to start the season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning assigned seven players to their respective lower-level teams on Monday, reducing the training camp roster to 58. General Manager Julien BriseBois announced the moves a day ahead of Tuesday night's preseason matchup against the Nashville Predators. The team also announced the players traveling to Nashville Tuesday.

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.