The 1993–94 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning's second season of operation. The team finished last in the Atlantic Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Offseason

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 Christopher T. Kontos (born December 10, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Kontos is best known for his nine goals in 11 playoff games while he was a member of the Los Angeles Kings and his franchise opening night four-goal per ...

, 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 Denis Joseph Savard (born February 4, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1980 to 1997, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2017 Savard was named one of ...

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 Daren James Puppa (born March 23, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender in the NHL. During his career, he played for the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the 1985 NCAA Championship w ...

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 Christopher Allan Gratton (born July 5, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who last played with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the cousin of Josh Gratton, who had also briefly played i ...

and a pair of heavyweights Tampa Bay fans would grow to love— Rudy Poeschek and

Enrico Ciccone Enrico Pasquale Ciccone (born April 10, 1970) is a Canadian politician and former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He currently represents Marquette as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party. Hoc ...

. 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.

Regular season

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 Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...

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 Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...

Orlando Arena Amway Arena (originally known as Orlando Arena and later TD Waterhouse Centre) was an indoor arena located in Orlando, Florida. It was part of the Orlando Centroplex, a sports and entertainment complex located in Downtown Orlando. The arena wa ...

. 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.

Final standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , October 6, 1993, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1993–94) , , 0–1–0 , , , - , 2, , October 7, 1993, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1993–94) , , 0–2–0 , , , - , 3, , October 9, 1993, , 0–2 , , align="left",

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

( 1993–94) , , 0–3–0 , , , - , 4, , October 14, 1993, , 3–2 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1993–94) , , 1–3–0 , , , - , 5, , October 16, 1993, , 4–1 , , align="left",

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

( 1993–94) , , 2–3–0 , , , - , 6, , October 17, 1993, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 2–3–1 , , , - , 7, , October 20, 1993, , 3–4 , , align="left",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1993–94) , , 2–4–1 , , , - , 8, , October 22, 1993, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 3–4–1 , , , - , 9, , October 23, 1993, , 0–2 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–5–1 , , , - , 10, , October 27, 1993, , 3–4 , , align="left",

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–6–1 , , , - , 11, , October 29, 1993, , 2–4 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–7–1 , , , - , 12, , October 30, 1993, , 1–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 3–8–1 , , , - , - , 13, , November 2, 1993, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–9–1 , , , - , 14, , November 3, 1993, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–10–1 , , , - , 15, , November 6, 1993, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–10–2 , , , - , 16, , November 8, 1993, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 3–11–2 , , , - , 17, , November 11, 1993, , 1–4 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1993–94) , , 3–12–2 , , , - , 18, , November 13, 1993, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 4–12–2 , , , - , 19, , November 17, 1993, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...

( 1993–94) , , 4–13–2 , , , - , 20, , November 19, 1993, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 4–14–2 , , , - , 21, , November 20, 1993, , 4–3 , , align="left",

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

( 1993–94) , , 5–14–2 , , , - , 22, , November 24, 1993, , 4–1 , , align="left",

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

( 1993–94) , , 6–14–2 , , , - , 23, , November 26, 1993, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1993–94) , , 6–15–2 , , , - , 24, , November 27, 1993, , 3–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 6–16–2 , , , - , - , 25, , December 1, 1993, , 0–3 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1993–94) , , 6–17–2 , , , - , 26, , December 4, 1993, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 7–17–2 , , , - , 27, , December 5, 1993, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

( 1993–94) , , 8–17–2 , , , - , 28, , December 7, 1993, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

( 1993–94) , , 9–17–2 , , , - , 29, , December 11, 1993, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 9–18–2 , , , - , 30, , December 14, 1993, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 9–18–3 , , , - , 31, , December 15, 1993, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 10–18–3 , , , - , 32, , December 18, 1993, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 10–19–3 , , , - , 33, , December 19, 1993, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 10–19–4 , , , - , 34, , December 21, 1993, , 3–8 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 10–20–4 , , , - , 35, , December 23, 1993, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1993–94) , , 10–21–4 , , , - , 36, , December 26, 1993, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 10–22–4 , , , - , 37, , December 28, 1993, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 11–22–4 , , , - , 38, , December 30, 1993, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 12–22–4 , , , - , colspan="7" style="text-align:center;", ''Notes:''
Game played at the

. , - , - , 39, , January 1, 1994, , 5–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 12–22–5 , , , - , 40, , January 2, 1994, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 12–23–5 , , , - , 41, , January 4, 1994, , 1–0 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 13–23–5 , , , - , 42, , January 8, 1994, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 14–23–5 , , , - , 43, , January 10, 1994, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 15–23–5 , , , - , 44, , January 12, 1994, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1993–94) , , 16–23–5 , , , - , 45, , January 13, 1994, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 16–24–5 , , , - , 46, , January 16, 1994, , 3–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 17–24–5 , , , - , 47, , January 17, 1994, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 17–25–5 , , , - , 48, , January 19, 1994, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 18–25–5 , , , - , 49, , January 24, 1994, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 19–25–5 , , , - , 50, , January 26, 1994, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 19–25–6 , , , - , 51, , January 29, 1994, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 19–26–6 , , , - , colspan="7" style="text-align:center;", ''Notes:''
Game played at the

. , - , - , 52, , February 2, 1994, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 19–27–6 , , , - , 53, , February 5, 1994, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 19–28–6 , , , - , 54, , February 7, 1994, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 20–28–6 , , , - , 55, , February 10, 1994, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 21–28–6 , , , - , 56, , February 12, 1994, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1993–94) , , 21–29–6 , , , - , 57, , February 13, 1994, , 3–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 21–29–7 , , , - , 58, , February 15, 1994, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 21–30–7 , , , - , 59, , February 17, 1994, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 22–30–7 , , , - , 60, , February 19, 1994, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 22–31–7 , , , - , 61, , February 20, 1994, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 22–31–8 , , , - , 62, , February 24, 1994, , 4–0 , , align="left", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1993–94) , , 23–31–8 , , , - , 63, , February 26, 1994, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 23–32–8 , , , - , 64, , February 27, 1994, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1993–94) , , 23–33–8 , , , - , - , 65, , March 1, 1994, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 24–33–8 , , , - , 66, , March 3, 1994, , 4–5 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 24–34–8 , , , - , 67, , March 5, 1994, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–34–8 , , , - , 68, , March 6, 1994, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–35–8 , , , - , 69, , March 9, 1994, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 25–36–8 , , , - , 70, , March 13, 1994, , 5–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 25–36–9 , , , - , 71, , March 15, 1994, , 3–7 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–37–9 , , , - , 72, , March 16, 1994, , 4–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–37–10 , , , - , 73, , #March 20, 1994, , 0–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–38–10 , , , - , 74, , March 22, 1994, , 4–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 25–39–10 , , , - , 75, , March 24, 1994, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 25–40–10 , , , - , 76, , March 27, 1994, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 25–40–11 , , , - , 77, , March 30, 1994, , 3–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 26–40–11 , , , - , - , 78, , April 1, 1994, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 27–40–11 , , , - , 79, , April 4, 1994, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 27–41–11 , , , - , 80, , April 6, 1994, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 28–41–11 , , , - , 81, , April 9, 1994, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 29–41–11 , , , - , 82, , April 10, 1994, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1993–94) , , 29–42–11 , , , - , 83, , April 13, 1994, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 29–43–11 , , , - , 84, , April 14, 1994, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1993–94) , , 30–43–11 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Skaters

Goaltenders

† 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;

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Waivers

Signings

NHL Expansion Draft

Phase I

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

Phase II

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

Departures

Draft picks

Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1993 NHL entry draft held at the Quebec Coliseum in

Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1993-94 Tampa Bay Lightning season T Tampa Bay Lightning seasons

Tamp A tamper is a device used to compact or flatten an aggregate or another powdered or granular material, typically to make it resistant to further compression or simply to increase its density. Examples * Small, handheld tampers are used to compre ...

1990s in Tampa, Florida