Nikita Kucherov
FILE- Canada's Sidney Crosby hoists the trophy following his team's victory over Europe in the finals of the World Cup of Hockey finals on Sept. 29, 2016, in Toronto. he NHL and NHL Players’ Association have abandoned plans to hold a World Cup of Hockey in 2024, according to a a joint statement Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, calling it not feasible to hold the tournament as they had hoped in February of 2024. The league and union say they hope to stage it in February 2025 and will continue to plan for that. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Russia-Ukraine war derails World Cup of Hockey plans for '24

By Stephen Whyno Nov. 11, 2022 03:27 PM EST

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates with the bench after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning 5/12/2022

May. 30, 2022 02:24 AM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) sprays water on his face during a timeout against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis (4) falls with his stick and the stick of an opponent in the third period of an NHL hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
'Everybody's tired' as condensed NHL schedule takes its toll

By Stephen Whyno May. 04, 2021 03:22 PM EDT

St. Louis Blues' Mike Hoffman (68) and San Jose Sharks' Fredrik Handemark (37) chase after a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Capped out: Flat salary cap makes NHL teams get creative

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 20, 2021 02:45 AM EST

FILE - Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin (35) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, in this Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, file photo. Khudobin signed a $10 million, three-year contract to stay with the Stars. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Stanley Cup finalists land in NHL's altered Central Division

By Larry Lage Jan. 08, 2021 04:29 PM EST

Lightning embrace challenge of defending Stanley Cup title

By Fred Goodall Jan. 05, 2021 07:45 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Winning Stanley Cup championships in consecutive seasons is rare. The Tampa Bay Lightning are confident they can do it. ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. This has been a year for Tampa Bay sports like no other, though the area's three successful professional teams haven't had a chance to truly capitalize on the boom and connect with re-energized fan bases. It has been — and continues to be —- a missed opportunity because of the coronavirus pandemic.(AP Photo/Corey Sipkin, File)
Missed opportunity: Tampa teams soar, fans watch from afar

By Fred Goodall Nov. 03, 2020 02:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, April 24, 2015, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates after Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers parted with one of the greatest netminders in franchise history on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, when they paid off the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Goalies get shuffled in NHL free agency; Lightning depleted

By John Wawrow Oct. 09, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning NHL hockey team hold up the Stanley Cup during the first half of an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. The Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars earlier this week to win the cup. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
The Latest: Ramsey, Tate fight after Rams-Giants game

By The Associated Press Oct. 04, 2020 12:38 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning players surround NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as they celebrate after defeating the Dallas Stars to win the Stanley Cup in Edmonton, Alberta, on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Bubble hockey champions: Tampa Bay Lightning win Stanley Cup

By Stephen Whyno Sep. 28, 2020 11:05 PM EDT