Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Lightning Defeat Golden Knights as Nikita Kucherov Ties Franchise Record

The start of the Tampa Bay Lightning's three-game road trip couldn't have started better. Their trip to Vegas signifies the first of three West coast games against some of the NHL's best competition, and Tampa didn't shy away from it.

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Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli Exits With Undisclosed Injury

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli exited the team’s Tuesday night win over the Vegas Golden Knights after the second period per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.

Nikita Kucherov News / Daily Faceoff / October 21

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov ties franchise all-time points record

Steven Stamkos, meet Nikita Kucherov. With a goal in the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 6-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, Kucherov has tied Stamkos as the highest scoring player in Lightning franchise history with 1,137 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Field Level Media / October 21

Nikita Kucherov's points milestone helps Lightning thrash Knights

Nikita Kucherov scored a goal and had two assists to move into a tie for the Tampa Bay career scoring lead and as the Lightning cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Alexander Ovechkin News / Yardbarker Quizzes

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Lucas Mercuri News / The Hockey Writers / October 20

Syracuse Crunch Weekly Prospect Report: O’Reilly, Pietroniro & Mercuri

The Syracuse Crunch bounced back from a rough 1-3 start to the season with a win against the Rochester Americans on Oct. 17. They got their first win on home ice in front of their fans, and evened out the rivalry at one game apiece.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The biggest draft bust for every NHL team

People love a good mid-round draft pick that pans out, and in the NHL you used to see those fairly often, but that’s obviously partially luck. If the Red Wings thought Nicklas Lidstrom was going to become a top-five defenseman in history, they wouldn’t have waited until the 53rd pick to take him.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Field Level Media / October 19

Lightning open challenging trip against equally hot Knights

Off to a perfect 5-0-0 record at home, the Tampa Bay Lightning head west for a demanding three-game road trip that begins Tuesday night in Las Vegas against the defending Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 19

Lightning Face Early-Season Test Against NHL’s Best on West Coast Trip

The Tampa Bay Lightning are preparing for their first three-game West Coast trip of the season, beginning with a nationally televised matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 20.

NHL News / Field Level Media / October 17

Lightning rally from 2 down to beat Canucks

Jake Guentzel scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period as the Tampa Bay Lightning kept their home slate clean with a 4-2 comeback win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday afternoon.

Victor Hedman News / Field Level Media / October 15

Hedman's overtime winner gives Lightning 4th straight home win

Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman drove through the slot and scored at 2:07 of overtime as the Lightning beat the Seattle Kraken 4-3 on Thursday night. The captain seemed to lose the puck as he split the defense, but the defenseman lunged and swiped at it, sending in the game-winner with his first goal this season.

Dennis Hildeby News / Professor Press Box / October 15

Maple Leafs Fans Might Want to See How Dennis Hildeby Is Doing

Something about Dennis Hildeby makes you want to keep an eye on him. Maybe it's the size. Maybe it's the tall Swedish goaltender's calm presence. Or maybe it's that feeling you get when a young player leaves Toronto, and you still want to see him succeed.

NHL News / Yardbarker / October 14

Alexis Lafreniere may be having breakout at perfect time for Rangers

When the New York Rangers won the 2020 NHL Draft Lottery and landed forward Alexis Lafreniere, the expectation, as it is with any No. 1 overall pick, was that he would become a franchise cornerstone and star-level player.

Alex Tuch scores twice as Capitals bounce back to defeat Canadiens

Alex DeBrincat signing comes as a surprise amid Red Wings chaos

Red Wings interim GM says there's 'zero interest' in trading Simon Edvinsson

Location continues to be the sticking point for a Dylan Larkin trade

The NHL's early-season breakout players in 2026-27

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Dominic James News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 14

Lightning Recall Dominic James

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Dominic James. This move comes five days after James was assigned to the Syracuse Crunch, following his recovery from a hand injury sustained in the preseason.

NHL News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 14

Tampa Bay Lightning Fall to New York Rangers Yet Again

With a rare early season rematch, the Tampa Bay Lightning once again fell to the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. The Bolts lost the first matchup by a score of 5-1 and fell to the Rangers 4-1 this time.

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Mads Sogaard News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 13

Lightning Recall Mads Sogaard

The Tampa Bay Lightning are not expected to have netminder Dennis Hildeby on the bench tonight as he deals with an undisclosed ailment. To fill in as backup, the Lightning announced they recalled goalie Mads Søgaard from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

John Carlson News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 13

John Carlson Quietly Making His Presence Felt For the Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning will look to avenge their only loss of the season when they face the New York Rangers, but we should look at a piece of their team that has been a great addition: defenseman John Carlson.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 13

Tampa Bay Lightning With an Early Chance to Show Progress

The Tampa Bay Lightning have an early opportunity to show how much they have improved since opening night. After suffering a disappointing 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers to begin the season, Tampa Bay has responded with four consecutive wins and enters this rematch with plenty of momentum.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 12

Lightning Second Line a Major Factor in Win Streak

The Tampa Bay Lightning are on a four game winning streak entering Tuesday's game at Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers. Tampa Bay will look to exact revenge on New York, who handed them their only loss to open the regular season.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / October 12

Syracuse Crunch Weekly Prospect Report: Dominic James, Jakob Pelletier, and Mads Sogaard

The Syracuse Crunch are four games into the season, and they aren’t off to an ideal start, as they’re starting the campaign 1-3-0. They’re coming off a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Belleville Senators on Oct.

Jansen Harkins News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 6

Lightning Place Jansen Harkins On Waivers

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning have placed Jansen Harkins on waivers. Regardless of the waiver outcome, the transaction will allow the Lightning to activate Dominic James from injured reserve on Thursday.

Emil Lilleberg News / Daily Faceoff / October 5

Lightning’s Emil Lilleberg to miss time following injury from fight

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without one of their defensemen for the next little while, as head coach Jon Cooper told reporters that Emil Lilleberg will be out for Monday night’s game and possibly about a week longer after suffering an injury during a fight.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / October 2

Jon Cooper rips Lightning for poor performance: 'It was almost like the game was an inconvenience to play'

Jon Cooper did not hold back with his thoughts on the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s performance in their season opener.

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin scores first career goal

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NHL News / Yardbarker / October 1

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin scores first career goal

New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is the 18th different goaltender to score a goal,

Jack Hughes confused by awkward joke about extensive injury history

Devils score season-opening win over Flyers on Hughes' OT goal

Kraken, Flyers pull off player-for-player trade early in season

Ducks sign Tristan Luneau to six-year extension

Oilers' Zach Hyman out for two weeks with undisclosed injury

Nikita Kucherov News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

Is Tampa Bay Nearing an Ultimatum Scenario With Nikita Kucherov?

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Nikita Kucherov still don’t have a contract extension done, and Elliotte Friedman thinks the clock may matter more than it seems.

NHL News / Yardbarker / September 25

Four NHL teams under most pressure to win the Stanley Cup this season

Let's take a look at four NHL teams that are going to be facing the most pressure to win during the 2026-27 season.

Mark Messier torches Oilers for controversial Mike Babcock hiring

Zach Hyman invites Messier to visit Oilers after Babcock comments

Sharks name Macklin Celebrini 14th captain in franchise history

Is the NHL cooling down on expansion a good thing?

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Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / September 23

3 Takeaways From Lightning’s First 2 Preseason Games

The Tampa Bay Lightning have their preseason underway, getting loosened up for when the games actually matter in a little over a week. So far, two games are in the books, splitting a home and away preseason series against the Nashville Predators.

Wayne Gretzky News / Yardbarker / September 9

Barry Melrose was one of NHL's biggest personalities, and one of its biggest advocates

Whether you agreed with him, disagreed with him, or followed his career as a coach or player, you knew who Barry Melrose was if you were even a casual hockey fan.