Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Streaky Lightning eager to end skid in clash vs. Hurricanes

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the Eastern Conference's streakiest teams this season. Dragging around a three-game losing skid (0-2-1) and a home record that is now on the south side of .500 (8-9-0), the Lightning will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in the first meeting between the clubs this season.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

NHL Predictions: December 20th with Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes

Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

Jon Cooper News / Breakaway on SI / December 20

Jon Cooper Has High Praise for Two Lightning Forwards

The Tampa Bay Lightning have never been shy about who they are. This is a franchise built on standards, not slogans. Every season begins with the same expectation: compete deep into the spring or consider it unfinished business.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Breakaway on SI / December 19

Paul Bissonnette Identifies Perfect Trade Fit for Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have built one of the NHL’s most balanced teams, a roster shaped by experience, talent, and a proven understanding of what wins in the postseason.

Drew Doughty News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NHL Norris Trophy winners' quiz

Bobby Orr won the last of his eight Norris Trophies during the 1974-75 season. Can you name every defenseman who won the trophy since then?

The 'Team Canada 2025 Four Nations Face-Off roster' quiz

The 'Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup-winning teams' quiz

The 'NHL 1,200-points Club' quiz

Odeen Tufto News / Inside The Rink / December 19

ECHL: Odeen Tufto Heads Overseas

Fort Wayne Komets Odeen Tufto is heading overseas to Germany to join the Ravensburg Towerstars (DEL2). This will be the second time he’s played in the DEL2, as he had five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 12 games with the Krefeld Pinguine.

NHL News / Yardbarker

Who is the winningest coach for every NHL franchise?

NHL head coaches have to hire good assistants. They have to set an overarching philosophy, juggle lineup configurations, and do the kind of “man management” that is impossible to track statistically.

Andrei Vasilevskiy News / Breakaway on SI / December 18

Lightning Goalie Set to Make Return vs. Kings

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reason to rejoice. After being without star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy since he went down with an undisclosed injury on Dec.

Ryan McDonagh News / Pro Hockey Rumors / December 18

Lightning Activate Ryan McDonagh From Injured Reserve

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Ryan McDonagh has been activated from injured reserve and will be in the Lightning’s lineup on Thursday evening versus the Kings, Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider reports.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / December 18

Vasilevskiy, McDonagh expected to return against Kings; Hagel a game-time decision

A couple of significant roster notes for the Tampa Bay Lightning. After the team’s morning skate on Thursday, reports say that goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defenseman Ryan McDonagh are slated to return to the lineup for that night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

NHL News / Last Word On Sports / December 18

NHL Predictions: Tampa Bay Lightning vs the L.A Kings

NHL News / Field Level Media / December 18

Lightning eager to improve at home in encounter vs. Kings

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper noticed the wear on his club after it lost for the eighth time in 16 home games on Monday night. The Lightning will try to get on the north side of their .500 home mark on Thursday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings in the first of two meetings between the clubs in a two-week span.

Brandon Hagel News / Daily Faceoff / December 17

Lightning’s Brandon Hagel out day-to-day, not ruled out for Thursday

Some uncertain future for one of the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s top players. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, assistant coach Rob Zettler stated that forward Brandon Hagel is out day-to-day, but has yet to be ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

NHL News / Yardbarker / December 16

NHL Department of Player Safety has stopped caring about player safety

Now the department is run by George Parros, a former NHL player whose only claim to fame in the league was for fighting people.

Igor Shesterkin had violent outburst after Rangers loss

Nick Saban purchases a stake in an NHL team

Leafs' Anthony Stolarz 'not making progress' on injury, seeing specialist

Devils' Simon Nemec placed on injured reserve

Kings place Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve

Which coach or general manager has the hottest seat right now?

Andrei Vasilevskiy News / Field Level Media / December 16

Report: Lightning activate G Andrei Vasilevskiy from IR

After missing seven games with an undisclosed injury, Tampa Bay Lightning No. 1 goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was activated from the injured reserve, LightningInsider.com reported on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Breakaway on SI / December 16

Lightning’s Nick Paul Hits Two Massive Milestones

If there are two players laughing at practice in Tampa Bay, chances are Nick Paul is one of them. He brings energy everywhere he goes — on the ice, on the bench and inside the room.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Most multi-rushing-TD NFL games' quiz

The 'NFL's active TD-catch leaders' quiz

The 'Youngest 40-point NBA games' quiz

The 'Active NFL 5-passing-TD games' quiz

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Pro Hockey Rumors / December 16

Lightning Expected To Activate Andrei Vasilevskiy From IR

The Lightning announced today that they’ve reassigned goaltender Brandon Halverson and winger Scott Sabourin to the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Halverson’s demotion means they’ll use one of the open roster spots to activate Andrei Vasilevskiy from injured reserve before Thursday’s game against the Kings.

Jon Cooper News / NHL on ClutchPoints / December 16

Jon Cooper’s ‘tired’ admission after crushing Panthers loss

The Tampa Bay Lightning took a step back in ClutchPoints’ most recent power rankings. But the Atlantic Division leaders are still in the thick of the playoff race.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / December 15

Lightning’s Emil Lilleberg out week-to-week; Vasilevsky return potentially before Christmas

Some injury updates for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. When speaking to the media on Monday, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper revealed that defenseman Emil Lilleberg is going to miss a few weeks due to injury.

Steven Santini News / Pro Hockey Rumors / December 15

Lightning Recall Steven Santini, Place Emil Lilleberg On IR

10:30 a.m.: As alluded to earlier, the Lightning have placed Lilleberg on the team’s IR, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times. Lightning

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / December 14

Islanders Hold Off Lightning Comeback, Win 3-2 in Shootout

The New York Islanders prevail over the Tampa Bay Lightning again, this time taking them down in the shootout, 3-2. The Lightning mounted a comeback after falling behind 2-0, but they weren’t able to seal the deal.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Last Word On Sports / December 12

Tampa Bay Lightning have Injury to Veteran Milan Bound

The Tampa Bay Lightning are using the injured reserve today. One of the best defencemen of the past decade Victor Hedman has an injury of elbow injury that required surgery.

Victor Hedman News / NHL on ClutchPoints / December 12

Lightning’s Victor Hedman undergoes elbow surgery, sidelining him until February

Losing Victor Hedman to an injury for any amount of time is concerning for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are currently leading the Atlantic Division. After taking a step back last season, Tampa Bay was back in fine form during the 2025-26 campaign, but will now be without its No.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / December 12

Lightning Set to Lose Victor Headman Due to Elbow Surgery

Just as soon as they get him back, the Tampa Bay Lightning will lose their star defenseman again. The Lightning announced that Victor Hedman will undergo an elbow procedure on Monday.