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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


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


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


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


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


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


Montreal Halts Lightning Point Streak Behind Dobes' Strong Performance
Jakub Dobes stopped 36 of 37 shots he faced, including all 17 in the third period, to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night. Cole Caufield scored the game-winning goal and added an assist.

Mike Smith
Apr 13 min read


The Right Gage at the Right Time
For all their star power, The Tampa Bay Lightning's success has never been just about their biggest names. It's getting just the right mix of superstars and players who do the hard, often unnoticed work – winning battles, forechecking, and not shying away from the greasy goals. Over the past few weeks, Gage Goncalves has stepped up to be one of those players for the Bolts.
Michelle Gordon
Mar 262 min read


Lightning Come Back with Wild Finish to Down Minnesota
Erik Cernak scored the game-winning goal with less than four minutes to play, and Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning fought back from a two-goal deficit twice to beat the Minnesota Wild, 6-3.

Mike Smith
Mar 254 min read


Lightning Suffer "Abnormally Bad" Loss to Columbus
Conor Garland scored twice as the Columbus Blue Jackets dismantled the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night, 5-2. Zach Werenski and Sean Monahan had two assists each.
The loss was the sixth in seven games for the Bolts, who have been mired in lackluster play since returning from the Olympic Break at the end of February.

Mike Smith
Mar 103 min read


Kucherov, Lightning Pick Up Right Where They Left Off with Win Against Toronto
Brayden Point returned to the lineup for the first time in 11 games to score twice and earn an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night, 4-2. Nikita Kucherov and Gage Goncalves both had a goal and two assists, while Charles-Édouard D'Astous added two assists.

Mike Smith
Feb 264 min read
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