1993–94 Tampa Bay Lightning season

Buoyed by an active off-season, confidence was high as the Lightning headed to Lakeland to prepare for the team's second National Hockey League season. The team was moved to the newly formed Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, prompting the beginning of several heated rivalries with East Coast teams such as Philadelphia and Florida.

Brian Bradley, fresh from an 86-point All-Star season, returned to lead the offense. Notably absent was Chris Kontos, who couldn't agree to a contract with the team. Offense, however, was expected to be a stronger area for the Lightning, with the off-season additions of flashy playmaker Denis Savard fresh off a Stanley Cup championship the previous season (free agent) and renowned sniper Petr Klima (trade with Edmonton). And with a move from Expo Hall across Tampa Bay to the Florida Suncoast Dome (soon renamed ThunderDome), the team was hoping the added stars would help fill the almost 30,000 seats available in St. Petersburg.

Another notable addition that would prove to be the most significant for the Lightning was the claim of veteran goaltender Daren Puppa from Florida in Phase II of the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. Puppa, a former NHL All-Star with Buffalo, moved to the forefront in the Lightning net and posted a 22-33-6 record while the team allowed 81 fewer goals than in 1992-93.

Other notable additions to the Lightning lineup in 1993-94 included first-round draft choice Chris Gratton and a pair of heavyweights Tampa Bay fans would grow to love—Rudy Poeschek and Enrico Ciccone. Poeschek, a defenseman/forward signed as a free agent after time with the Rangers and Winnipeg, stepped into the enforcer role and immediately elicited chants of "Rudy" from ThunderDome crowds. Ciccone was acquired in a late-season deal that sent Joe Reekie to Washington, and "Chico" quickly teamed with Poeschek to form one of the most formidable tandems in the league.

On the ice, the team couldn't match the hot start from 1992 to 1993, and quickly dropped to 3-12-2 by early November. However, a bit of NHL history was made early in the season when the first regular-season game at the ThunderDome, which drew an NHL-record 27,227 fans to watch the Lightning face the Panthers on October 9, 1993. That attendance mark remains as the league record for a regular season game. Also, that same month when the Los Angeles Kings came to town (October 20), NHL legend Wayne Gretzky faced his brother—Lightning 1992 draft choice Brent—for the only time in his career. Older brother Wayne got the better end of Brent this evening, helping Los Angeles to a 4-3 victory with a goal and an assist.

The season did, however, have its share of highlights. The Lightning eventually began to show more consistency, and a 9-3-1 stretch through late December (a month that also featured the team's most successful road trip to that point, a 3–0 December swing through California that pushed the Lightning's record in the Golden State to a perfect 7-0.) and most of January put the Bolts back in the race. The Bolts closed out the season with a 5-2 victory against Quebec at the ThunderDome and with high hopes for even more improvement in 1994-95. Although they never managed to reach .500, the Lightning posted a marked improvement with seven more wins and 18 more points than the previous year.

In addition to being their first season in the ThunderDome, the team played four regular-season home games in Orlando at Orlando Arena.

The Lightning finished the regular season as the NHL's most disciplined team, being shorthanded only 335 times. They also allowed the most short-handed goals in the league, with 20.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1994.html |title=1993-94 NHL Season Summary | Hockey-Reference.com |accessdate=2013-11-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929125153/http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1994.html |archivedate=2013-09-29 }}

{{1993–94 NHL Atlantic Division standings|team=TBL}}

{{1993–94 NHL Eastern Conference standings|team=TBL}}

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 5px solid;|title=1993–94 regular season{{cite web |title=1993-94 Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/1994_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=February 11, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=October: 3–8–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 0–3–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|1||L||October 6, 1993||1–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) ||0–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1993020007}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|2||L||October 7, 1993||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1993–94) ||0–2–0 || {{NHL recap|1993020014}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|3||L||October 9, 1993||0–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1993–94) ||0–3–0 || {{NHL recap|1993020026}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|4||W||October 14, 1993||3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) ||1–3–0 || {{NHL recap|1993020051}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|5||W||October 16, 1993||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1993–94) ||2–3–0 || {{NHL recap|1993020065}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|6||T||October 17, 1993||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1993–94) ||2–3–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020072}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|7||L||October 20, 1993||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1993–94) ||2–4–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020087}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|8||W||October 22, 1993||4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1993–94) ||3–4–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020098}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|9||L||October 23, 1993||0–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) ||3–5–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020107}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|10||L||October 27, 1993||3–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1993–94) ||3–6–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020124}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|11||L||October 29, 1993||2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1993–94) ||3–7–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020136}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|12||L||October 30, 1993||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1993–94) ||3–8–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020146}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=November: 3–8–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 0–5–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|13||L||November 2, 1993||2–8 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) ||3–9–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020157}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|14||L||November 3, 1993||0–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) ||3–10–1 || {{NHL recap|1993020164}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|15||T||November 6, 1993||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1993–94) ||3–10–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020179}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|16||L||November 8, 1993||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1993–94) ||3–11–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020193}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 11, 1993||1–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1993–94) ||3–12–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020210}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|18||W||November 13, 1993||4–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) ||4–12–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020222}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|19||L||November 17, 1993||3–4 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1993–94) ||4–13–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020242}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|20||L||November 19, 1993||3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1993–94) ||4–14–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020254}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|21||W||November 20, 1993||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94) ||5–14–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020261}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|22||W||November 24, 1993||4–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1993–94) ||6–14–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020283}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|23||L||November 26, 1993||0–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) ||6–15–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020292}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||November 27, 1993||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) ||6–16–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020303}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=December: 6–6–2 (home: 1–4–1; road: 5–2–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|25||L||December 1, 1993||0–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) ||6–17–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020322}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|26||W||December 4, 1993||5–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1993–94) ||7–17–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020344}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|27||W||December 5, 1993||4–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94) ||8–17–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020350}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|28||W||December 7, 1993||3–1 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1993–94) ||9–17–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020358}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|29||L||December 11, 1993||3–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) ||9–18–2 || {{NHL recap|1993020380}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}||T||December 14, 1993||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) ||9–18–3 || {{NHL recap|1993020395}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|31||W||December 15, 1993||4–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1993–94) ||10–18–3 || {{NHL recap|1993020400}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 18, 1993||3–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1993–94) ||10–19–3 || {{NHL recap|1993020420}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|33||T||December 19, 1993||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) ||10–19–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020424}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|34||L||December 21, 1993||3–8 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) ||10–20–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020434}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 23, 1993||4–7 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1993–94) ||10–21–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020452}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|36{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}||L||December 26, 1993||1–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1993–94) ||10–22–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020460}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|37||W||December 28, 1993||4–1 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) ||11–22–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020470}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||December 30, 1993||3–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1993–94) ||12–22–4 || {{NHL recap|1993020482}}

|-

| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|

Notes:

{{Note label|Note1|a|a}} Game played at the Orlando Arena.{{cite web |last1=Ruiz |first1=Stephen |title=Tampa Bay Lightning will play in Orlando this week for 12th time — a look at their previous visits |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2018/09/24/tampa-bay-lightning-will-play-in-orlando-this-week-for-12th-time-a-look-at-their-previous-visits/ |website=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=February 11, 2025 |date=September 24, 2018}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=January: 7–4–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 4–1–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|39||T||January 1, 1994||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) ||12–22–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020495}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}||L||January 2, 1994||1–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94) ||12–23–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020501}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|41||W||January 4, 1994||1–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) ||13–23–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020510}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|42||W||January 8, 1994||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) ||14–23–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020535}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|43||W||January 10, 1994||5–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1993–94) ||15–23–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020546}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 12, 1994||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) ||16–23–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020556}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|45||L||January 13, 1994||0–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94) ||16–24–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020564}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|46||W||January 16, 1994||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1993–94) ||17–24–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020585}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|47||L||January 17, 1994||3–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) ||17–25–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020590}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|48||W||January 19, 1994||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1993–94) ||18–25–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020601}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|49{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}||W||January 24, 1994||4–0 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) ||19–25–5 || {{NHL recap|1993020607}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|50||T||January 26, 1994||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (1993–94) ||19–25–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020621}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|51||L||January 29, 1994||1–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1993–94) ||19–26–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020641}}

|-

| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|

Notes:

{{Note label|Note1|a|a}} Game played at the Orlando Arena.

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=February: 4–7–2 (home: 1–2–2; road: 3–5–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|52||L||February 2, 1994||1–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) ||19–27–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020665}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|53||L||February 5, 1994||3–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) ||19–28–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020684}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|54||W||February 7, 1994||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) ||20–28–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020696}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 10, 1994||6–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1993–94) ||21–28–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020710}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|56||L||February 12, 1994||2–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1993–94) ||21–29–6 || {{NHL recap|1993020726}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|57||T||February 13, 1994||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1993–94) ||21–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1993020733}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|58||L||February 15, 1994||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1993–94) ||21–30–7 || {{NHL recap|1993020741}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|59||W||February 17, 1994||4–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) ||22–30–7 || {{NHL recap|1993020751}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|60||L||February 19, 1994||4–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) ||22–31–7 || {{NHL recap|1993020767}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|61||T||February 20, 1994||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1993–94) ||22–31–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020771}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||February 24, 1994||4–0 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1993–94) ||23–31–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020798}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|63||L||February 26, 1994||1–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1993–94) ||23–32–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020812}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|64||L||February 27, 1994||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1993–94) ||23–33–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020816}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=March: 3–7–3 (home: 1–4–2; road: 2–3–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|65||W||March 1, 1994||4–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) ||24–33–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020824}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|66||L||March 3, 1994||4–5 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1993–94) ||24–34–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020834}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|67||W||March 5, 1994||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1993–94) ||25–34–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020850}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|68||L||March 6, 1994||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) ||25–35–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020852}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|69||L||March 9, 1994||1–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1993–94) ||25–36–8 || {{NHL recap|1993020869}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|70||T||March 13, 1994||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) ||25–36–9 || {{NHL recap|1993020899}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|71||L||March 15, 1994||3–7 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1993–94) ||25–37–9 || {{NHL recap|1993020907}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|72||T||March 16, 1994||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1993–94) ||25–37–10 || {{NHL recap|1993020912}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|73||L||#March 20, 1994||0–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1993–94) ||25–38–10 || {{NHL recap|1993020936}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|74||L||March 22, 1994||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1993–94) ||25–39–10 || {{NHL recap|1993020945}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|75||L||March 24, 1994||1–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) ||25–40–10 || {{NHL recap|1993020959}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|76||T||March 27, 1994||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Dallas Stars (1993–94) ||25–40–11 || {{NHL recap|1993020979}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|77||W||March 30, 1994||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) ||26–40–11 || {{NHL recap|1993020994}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=April: 4–3–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 2–2–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|78||W||April 1, 1994||4–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1993–94) ||27–40–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021009}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|79||L||April 4, 1994||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) ||27–41–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021025}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|80||W||April 6, 1994||3–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) ||28–41–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021037}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|81||W||April 9, 1994||3–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1993–94) ||29–41–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021052}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|82||L||April 10, 1994||4–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1993–94) ||29–42–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021058}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|83||L||April 13, 1994||0–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1993–94) ||29–43–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021078}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|84||W||April 14, 1994||5–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) ||30–43–11 || {{NHL recap|1993021087}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Lightning. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.

‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes;

TOI = Time on ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage;

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-break}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

The following two players were selected from the Tampa Bay Lightning roster in the 1993 NHL expansion draft:

In the second phase of the expansion draft, Tampa Bay Lightning selected the following players from the Panthers and Mighty Ducks:

Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1993 NHL entry draft held at the Quebec Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec.{{cite web |title=1993 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1993e.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=February 11, 2025}}

{{reflist}}

{{Tampa Bay Lightning}}

{{Tampa Bay Lightning seasons}}

{{1993–94 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1993-94 Tampa Bay Lightning season}}

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Category:Tampa Bay Lightning seasons

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Category:1990s in Tampa, Florida