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.

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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

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

The Eastern Conference First Round matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens heads north of the border this weekend, tied at one game each. Following two action-packed overtime results, the Lightning haven't played their best hockey, but haven't played their worst, either. However, there is one force out there keeping the Lightning grounded and headed in the right direction as we enter a pivotal point in the series: Brandon Hagel.

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.

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.