2025-2026 Tampa Bay Lightning Heater

The 2025-2026 Lightning regular season started off brutal with a record of 1-5-2, which is not where you want to be in the standings. The fans of the team were worried(myself included) that the Lightning weren’t going to win another game. 

In hindsight, it  seemed silly, as it was only October, the first month of the regular season, and there are 82 games in the year. There has always been the motto “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” 

In these first seven games of the season, the team looked rattled, and the star players were struggling to get going,which grew concerns from reporters around the league and their own fanbase. 

Throughout the first couple of games, Nikita Kucherov looked slower and unlike his usual self from past seasons. However, the themselvesweren’t worried about the slow start to the regular season due to it being so early.

The Lightning 1-5-2 regular season start 

After this brutal start to the regular season, it seemed that The Lightning were beginning to find their rhythm. The team went on to win their next five games which was much needed after the rough start. Over the course of those five games, they played the harder teams in the Ducks, Stars, Mammoth, Golden Knights, and Predators. Lightning much needed five game win streak.

In mid-late December, the Olympic teams were announced, and there were a plethora of Lightning players announced to be participating in the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics. The players that will be taking part in the winter games include:

• Jake Guentzel (USA)

• Anthony Cirelli (Canada)

• Victor Hedman (Sweden)

• Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark)

• Pontus Holmberg (Sweden)

• Head Coach Jon Cooper (Canada)

• JJ Moser (Switzerland)

• Erik Cernak (Slovakia)

• Brayden Point (Canada)

• Brandon Hagel (Canada)

• Zemgus Girgensons (Latvia). 

There were plenty of questions as to why Anthony Cirelli made team Canada. Though, in my own opinion, he deserves to be there for the style of play that he brings to the Lightning. It truly shows that opposing fans don’t watch when they play the Lightning.

Although Cirelli may not  show up on the scoresheet all the time, which may be concerning, that’s not part of his game. Cirelli is a fantastic penalty killer, faceoff guy, with winning experience, which is what you need for a tournament like this. You can never can’t have enough players like him on your team. 

It’s truly incredible that Jon Cooper has brought this team to the top of the division with the amount of injuries he’s been dealt this season. The Lightning have been without veteran defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan Mcdonagh, two guys who are important to the team, for most of the season so far. 

Erik Cernak also missed some time this season due to injury, but was able to come back and look fantastic in his usual defensive role. On Monday, the Lightning were dealt another blow, this time with superstar Brayden Point going down with a knee injury that will keep him out for some time. 

Despite these setbacks, the Lightning currently sit at the top of the Atlantic with a record of 29-13-3, which is quite impressive when comparing how the season started to where they are at the moment. The Lightning are currently on a heater winning 11 straight games.

The most satisfying part of this incredible run that they’re on is having minor league caliber defense.  we now look to see what the second half of the season brings for Tampa Bay. One can only hope for a Stanley Cup Championship victory.