2005 Tampa Bay Lightning

Missing an entire season had to be particularly galling to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had captured the Stanley Cup in 2003-04. The NHL's long-awaited return to the ice in 2005-06 was a solid yet frustrating one. The Lightning wrapped up the regular NHL season with a record of 43 wins to 33 regulation-time losses and 6 overtime losses, for a total of 92 points, well below a number of other teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Southeast Division (52-22-8, 112 points). Just the same, the Lightning managed to acquire a ticket to the National Hockey League Playoffs and a glimmering dream of a repeat.

Seeded #8 among the eight Eastern Conference hockey teams in the 2005-06 NHL Playoffs, the Tampa Bay Lightning had made it to the postseason playoffs a total of three times previously since they were established in 1992. Not surprisingly, they were eliminated in the first round, managing only one win against the top-seeded Ottawa Senators, who were then upset by the Buffalo Sabres.

Tampa Bay joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1992, with Hockey Hall of Fame member Phil Esposito serving as the team's first general manager. The club placed last in its division in its first two seasons and second to last in its third year. Center Brian Bradley, formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, emerged as the Lightning's top scorer.

In the 1995-96 season Tampa Bay qualified for the playoffs for the first time. Important players included defenseman Roman Hamrlik and goalie Daren Puppa, whose save percentage and goals-against average each ranked in the NHL's top five. The Lightning lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the opening round of the playoffs.

Tampa Bay has been swept up with hockey fever as the Lightning continue to strike the competition night after night. The Lightning play their home games at St. Pete Times Forum, also known as the Ice Palace, which also hosts special events and concerts.

Previous players include: Chris Kontos, Brian Bradley, Petr Klima, Denis Savard, Chris Gratton, Dino Ciccarelli, Mikael Renberg, Karl Dykhuis, Steve Kelly, Jason Bonsignore, Paul Ysebaert, Mike Sillinger, and Nikolai Khabibulin. Previous coaches include Terry Crisp, Rick Paterson, Jacques Demers, Steve Ludzik, John Tortorella.