1992/93: With interest in Hockey picking up in the United States the NHL decides to add a team in one of the most unlikely place, Tampa, FL. Led by NHL legend Phil Esposito the city of Tampa had been lobbying actively for an NHL team hosting an exhibition game at the Suncoast Dome in 1990 that drew a record crowd of 25,581 to see Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. The Lightning would begin play with a people with a solid pedigree running the team as Phil Esposito was named club president and Terry Crisp who only a few years earlier led the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup was named coach. During the preseason the Lightning would get wide attention as goalie Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an exhibition game as she stopped 7 of 9 shots in one period during a September 23rd exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. What started out, as publicity stunt would become extended as Rheaume was signed to play for the Lightning's top minor league club in Atlanta. However, she would never be called up to play in a regular season game. Playing at the Expo Hall at the old Florida State Fairgrounds the Lightning would get off to a rousing start in the regular season, beating the defending Campbell Conference Champion Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 led by Chris Kontos, who netted 4 goals. The Lightning would comeback to earth a bit finishing last in the Norris Division with a 23-54-7 record, which was considerably better the their expansion partners the Ottawa Senators.

2003/04: The Lightning got off to a fast start as they finished the first month of the season unbeaten through their first 7 games. The Lightning continued their solid play into November holding an 11-2-2-1 record on the 22nd. However over the next 6 weeks they would struggle falling out of first place in the Southeast Division as they struggled through December winning just 4 times. During the slump Coach John Tortorella tried a number of ways to recharge the Lightning benching Goalie Nickolai Khabibulin while calling out star Vincent Lecavalier, as they held a mediocre 16-15-6-1 record on January 6th. The moves would work as both played better and the Lightning caught fire in the second half losing just 5 games in regulation the rest of the season as the move seemed to spur on Lecavalier the rest of the season as he scored 32 goals while dishing out 34 assists. However doing even better was Tampa's mighty might spark plug Martin St. Louis who won the leagues scoring title with 35 goals and 56 assists earning him the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP, as the Lightning posted a Eastern Conference best record of 46-21-8-6. Winning the best record would also earn John Tortorella the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year. In the playoffs the Lightning faced the New York Islanders in the first round, after exchanging 3-0 wins at the St. Pete Times Forum the Lightning struck down the Islanders on the road winning Games 3 and 4 as Khabibulin stopped 61 shots in the two games. The Lightning would close the series out in Game 5 as Martin St. Louis scored netted the 3-2 winner in overtime. In the 2nd round the Lightning faced the tradition rich Montreal Canadiens, taking the first 2 games at home in dominant fashion winning both games 4-0 and 3-1. As the series shifted to Montreal the Lightning continued to roll taking a commanding 3-0 series lead as Brad Richards scored in overtime for a 4-3 win. The Lightning would go on to complete the rare sweep of the Habs with a 3-1 win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Facing the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference finals the Lightning got off to a fast start taking the opener 3-1. However in Game 2 the Lightning struggled, badly losing 6-2. As the series shifted to Philadelphia the Lightning needed to rebound quickly and they did winning 4-1. However the Flyers would rebound to take Game 4 evening the series at 2 games apiece. Back in Tampa the Lightning would take back control of the series with a 4-2 win as Brad Richards scored twice. With a chance to close the series out in Game 6 in Philadelphia the Lightning and Flyers battled back and forth as the game went to overtime tied at 4. In OT the Flyers would score right away forcing a decisive 7th game at the St. Pete Times Forum. In Game 7 the Lightning would jump out to a 2-0 lead. However the Flyers cut it to 2-1 midway through the 2nd period from there they would rely on Nickolai Khabibulin to hold the lead as he stopped a total of 31 shots as the Lightning held on to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.