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, thousands of us went through these mood swings together, reacting in unison, arguing with the same frustrations, celebrating the same highs, and spiraling over the same lows. At its essence, this season was about emotional survival for us all.

The Anticipation

This is it! This is the year. Our roster is stacked. Our depth is real. Our goaltending is back to being elite. Analysts love us. The models love us. We certainly look like the most complete team in the conference. I am calm. I am confident. I am ready!

The Start

We lose the first two games at home. We start the season 1-4-2. This season is over. Blow it up. Nothing matters.

The Rebound

The rumors of the Lightning's demise have been greatly exaggerated! They go on a 15-3 run. Dominant wins. The championship pedigree is shining through. I never doubted them. (Do not check my text messages.)

The Dip

Suddenly, we can't score. A 2-6-1 stretch where we're controlling play, driving possession, doing everything right... except putting the puck in the net. This is deeply annoying. I am deeply annoyed.

The Return to Dominance

Oh. There they are! A 20-1-1 tear heading into the Olympic Break. Absolute world-beaters. And we're doing this with injuries. Just imagine how unstoppable this team will be when everyone is back. Oh, and did you catch our outdoor classic that even included a goalie fight? We're a team of destiny! This is our year. I feel it.

But then comes the Olympic Break, and everything changes. A 2-7-0 stretch. Followed by an 8-1-2 rebound. Inconsistent? Sure. But still good enough for second place in the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Playoff bound, baby!

The Confidence Phase

Favored to win the Eastern Conference. The most complete team. Depth, star power, elite goaltending, and the Corey-Perry-Somehow-Always-Makes-It-To-The-Final factor. I am all in for this run!

And Then... The Height of the Mood Swings... The Playoffs

Game 1: Why can't we win at home? Why do we keep giving up the first goal? Is Vasy okay? Why are we so undisciplined? Oh no -- overtime. The one thing we cannot survive. Montreal controls OT and wins quickly. Okay. Breathe. It's just one game. We've still got this.

Game 2: We score first! Growth! We then give up the next two goals, but claw back to tie it. Oh no. Overtime again. Wait... we're dominating OT?? Moser scores!! We win a playoff overtime game at home! The curse is broken. We are unstoppable.

Game 3 (in Montreal): We give up the first goal again. Of course. And back to overtime. Quick Habs goal. We are done. No point in even bothering with the rest of the series!

Game 4: Down 2-0. Then, a Max Crozier hit lights a fire under the team. Brandon Hagel turns into an absolute beast. Tie game. Go-ahead goal. A 3-2 regulation win. That hit changed everything. The Lightning are so back.

Game 5: Back home. Momentum secured. ... What is this? Did the team know there was a playoff game tonight? How can you show up this flat for such an important playoff game? They're cooked.

Game 6: Scoreless through 60 minutes. Vasy is unreal. Another overtime. Why do we live like this? Gage Goncalves!! We win! We force game 7. Back to Tampa. Winner take all. The boys will definitely be ready this time.

Game 7: They are ready. Total domination. Montreal scores a fluky goal late in the first. They lead 1-0, somehow. Second period: pure Lightning control. The Habs don't register a single shot. They're still sitting at four total. Finally, on shot number 20, Tampa ties it. 1-1. Montreal held shotless. People online and in the arena are openly mocking how bad they look. All I can think is, "And yet... they're not losing..."

Third period: Another ridiculous bounce. Another Montreal goal. Of course. This time, there is no equalizer. Tampa holds Montreal to nine shots over 60 minutes. And loses. Series over.

The Aftermath

Hockey is a cruel and unfair sport. I hate it. I don't even want to watch anymore because my team isn't in it. I'm done with hockey... Okay, but maybe I want to see Buffalo destroy these undeserving Canadiens. Let's check the score. Wait... Buffalo already has two goals in the first period? On six shots? Ha! I knew Montreal wasn't that good! But also... why couldn't we do that?

Round two, game one ends. Buffalo 4 (on 16 shots), Montreal 2 (on 28 shots). Four goals on 16 shots for the Sabres. I genuinely cannot tell if this makes me happy or even angrier.

Hockey is cruel. Hockey is unfair. I hate hockey.

... How many days until next season starts?