News Category: Tampa Bay Lightning

Panthers looking to put away Lightning on home ice

The Florida Panthers are one win from eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning from the playoffs for the first time in the franchises’ histories. The Lightning won the rivals’ two previous playoff encounters in 2021 and 2022. Though Florida leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 — with Game 5 set for the Panthers’ home ice in Sunrise on Monday — the leaders are not overconfident. That’s especially true after Tampa Bay’s 6-3 home win on Saturday in

Lightning get crack at home ice down 2-0 to Panthers

The Florida Panthers defended home ice with an overtime victory on Tuesday. Now it’s up to the Tampa Bay Lightning to try and match it. The best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series shifts to Tampa for Game 3 on Thursday night, with the Atlantic Division champions Panthers leading 2-0. Tied 2-2 in the third Tuesday night, the Lightning’s NHL-best power play unit had a four-minute opportunity after Eetu Luostarinen committed a double-minor for high-sticking, but the

Panthers set for stern test in series opener vs. Lightning

In theory, winning the NHL’s Atlantic Division should have given the Florida Panthers an “easier” first-round playoff opponent. But, if history is any judge, that hardly is the case. The Panthers will open an Eastern Conference first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, Fla. “I think we’re one of the best teams in the league, and we’ve shown it all season,” Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk said. “But we’re not getting

Lightning, Leafs look to halt three-game skids in season finale

In their final regular-season matchup Wednesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning will try to put three-game slides behind them. In doing so, the two Atlantic Division clubs will meet for the fourth time in their season finale in Tampa, Fla. The Maple Leafs (46-25-10, 102 points) hold a 2-1 advantage against the Lightning this season after recording pair of overtime wins in the first two matchups and losing most recently in

Sabres set to close season vs. Lightning

Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Buffalo Sabres will wrap up their season on Monday night when they take on the host Tampa Bay Lightning. Even though it has been a disappointing campaign for Buffalo (38-37-6, 82 points), the Sabres have fared well against Tampa Bay, winning two of the three meetings between the teams this season. Both of Buffalo’s victories came in overtime, with Dylan Cozens providing the game-winner on Oct. 17 and Rasmus

Capitals cannot afford home loss to Lightning

Time is running out for the Washington Capitals, whose weekend plans will include some scoreboard watching. The Eastern Conference’s No. 2 wild-card holder as Thursday night’s games began, the Capitals (37-31-11, 85 points) could not top the Buffalo Sabres and fell out of the final postseason spot in a 4-2 loss. They desperately need two points Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to the nation’s capital. “Especially early on, I thought we did a

Atop East wild-card race, Lightning face last-place Jackets

The Tampa Bay Lightning are locked into the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, but quite a bit is still in play over the last five games. The first one takes place Tuesday night when the Lightning host the Columbus Blue Jackets in their third meeting of this campaign. Barring a complete collapse, Tampa Bay (43-27-7, 93 points) appears to have captured the No. 1 wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, holding a healthy lead

Penguins’ playoff push must go through Lightning

Two teams on the rise meet Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Pittsburgh Penguins, each with the bright lights of the upcoming playoffs in their eyes. For the Lightning (43-26-7, 93 points), getting into the postseason, while not official, seems to be pretty much a done deal. Pittsburgh (35-30-10, 81 points) will have to continue its late-season surge just to qualify. Tampa Bay still could have some upward mobility by moving out of

Lightning ride 9-1-1 run into Montreal

After failing to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in four years last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning appear to be peaking at the right time as they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night for the second game of a back-to-back set. The Lightning, the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup champions, who lost in the 2022 final, improved to 9-1-1 in their past 11 games with an impressive 4-1 road victory

Chasing Leafs, Lightning face rival in pivotal showdown

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a chance to move closer to third place in the Atlantic Division when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. The Lightning took a step back Monday night in a 4-2 home loss to the Detroit Red Wings to end a nine-game points streak. The Maple Leafs solidified their hold on third with a 6-4 home victory Monday over the Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs (43-22-9, 95 points)