2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning season began October 4, 2007. It is the Lightning's 16th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Tampa Bay's new logo, introduced in 2007.

2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning
Division	5th Southeast
Conference	15th Eastern
2007–08 record	31–42–9
Home record	20–18–3
Road record	11–24–6
Goals for	223
Goals against	267
Team information
General manager	Jay Feaster
Coach	John Tortorella
Captain	Tim Taylor
Alternate captains	Vincent Lecavalier Brad Richards (Oct.–Feb.) Martin St. Louis
Arena	St. Pete Times Forum
Average attendance	18,693 (95.9%)
Team leaders
Goals	Vincent Lecavalier (40)
Assists	Martin St. Louis (58)
Points	Vincent Lecavalier (92)
Penalty minutes	Shane O'Brien (154)
Plus/minus	Michel Ouellet (+11)
Wins	Johan Holmqvist (20)
Goals against average	Johan Holmqvist (3.01)
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The Lightning introduced a new logo design prior to the start of the season. The new, "modernized" logo was similar to the team's original logo, with the edges on the lightning bolt, and the text looking "sharper." The wordmark "Lightning" was dropped from the logo. It was the first change to the team's primary logo in its 15-year history and coincided with the launch of the Rbk Edge jersey design, introduced League wide.^[1]

The Lighting also announced that the team, along with the St. Pete Times Forum, had been tentatively sold to a group represented by former Columbus coach and general manager Doug MacLean.^[2] The deal was terminated in mid-November after the group, called Absolute Hockey Enterprises, began to fight amongst itself, leading to lawsuits being filed.^[3] The team, in announcing the cancellation of the sale, expressed in a November 27 release that it hoped the deal could be resurrected.^[4]

Forwards Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis were selected to represent the Lightning, and the Eastern Conference, at the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta.^[5] For the first time since the 2001–02 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning missed the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Regular season

The Lightning had the fewest power-play opportunities of all 30 teams (296) and, excluding one shootout goal allowed, gave up 266 goals during the regular season, tied with the Atlanta Thrashers for 30th overall.^[6][7]

Divisional standings

Southeast Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	y – Washington Capitals	82	43	31	8	242	231	94
2	Carolina Hurricanes	82	43	33	6	252	249	92
3	Florida Panthers	82	38	35	9	216	226	85
4	Atlanta Thrashers	82	34	40	8	216	272	76
5	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	31	42	9	223	267	71

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	47	25	10	262	222	104
2	y – Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	47	27	8	247	216	102
3	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	43	31	8	242	231	94
4	New Jersey Devils	AT	82	46	29	7	206	197	99
5	New York Rangers	AT	82	42	27	13	213	199	97
6	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	42	29	11	248	233	95
7	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	43	31	8	261	247	94
8	Boston Bruins	NE	82	41	29	12	212	222	94
8.5
9	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	43	33	6	252	249	92
10	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	39	31	12	255	242	90
11	Florida Panthers	SE	82	38	35	9	216	226	85
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	36	35	11	231	260	83
13	New York Islanders	AT	82	35	38	9	194	243	79
14	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	34	40	8	216	272	76
15	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	31	42	9	223	267	71

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

Schedule and results

2007–08 regular season[8]
October: 5–5–1 (home: 5–0–1; road: 0–5–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 4 New Jersey 1 – 3 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,454 1–0–0 2 W 2 October 6 Atlanta 2 – 5 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,220 2–0–0 4 W 3 October 10 Florida 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 18,540 3–0–0 6 W 4 October 13 Tampa Bay 4 – 6 Florida Denis 15,801 3–1–0 6 L 5 October 18 Tampa Bay 1 – 4 Boston Holmqvist 16,363 3–2–0 6 L 6 October 20 Atlanta 2 – 6 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,420 4–2–0 8 W 7 October 24 Tampa Bay 3 – 5 Washington Denis 10,226 4–3–0 8 L 8 October 25 Philadelphia 2 – 5 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 18,616 5–3–0 10 W 9 October 27 Buffalo 4 – 3 Tampa Bay OT Holmqvist 19,804 5–3–1 11 OTL 10 October 29 Tampa Bay 1 – 3 NY Rangers Holmqvist 18,200 5–4–1 11 L 11 October 31 Tampa Bay 1 – 6 New Jersey Holmqvist 13,218 5–5–1 11 L
November: 5–8–1 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–5–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 12 November 1 Tampa Bay 0 – 4 NY Islanders Denis 11,008 5–6–1 11 L 13 November 3 Atlanta 6 – 4 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,155 5–7–1 11 L 14 November 5 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Florida Holmqvist 10,149 5–8–1 11 L 15 November 7 Florida 1 – 3 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 16,526 6–8–1 13 W 16 November 8 Tampa Bay 5 – 1 Carolina Holmqvist 14,017 7–8–1 15 W 17 November 10 Tampa Bay 5 – 2 Washington Holmqvist 14,617 8–8–1 17 W 18 November 14 Carolina 1 – 6 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 17,444 9–8–1 19 W 19 November 16 Washington 2 – 5 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,526 10–8–1 21 W 20 November 19 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Atlanta OT Holmqvist 13,419 10–8–2 22 OTL 21 November 21 NY Rangers 2 – 1 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 20,110 10–9–2 22 L 22 November 23 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Carolina Holmqvist 18,033 10–10–2 22 L 23 November 24 New Jersey 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 19,077 10–11–2 22 L 24 November 28 Tampa Bay 1 – 5 Chicago Holmqvist 11,122 10–12–2 22 L 25 November 29 Tampa Bay 2 – 4 Detroit Denis 17,001 10–13–2 22 L
December: 5–8–1 (home: 4–5–1; road: 1–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 26 December 1 Boston 1 – 4 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 18,444 11–13–2 24 W 27 December 4 Ottawa 3 – 4 Tampa Bay SO Holmqvist 17,540 12–13–2 26 W 28 December 6 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 16,674 13–13–2 28 W 29 December 8 NY Islanders 3 – 2 Tampa Bay OT Holmqvist 18,319 13–13–3 29 OTL 30 December 10 Tampa Bay 1 – 6 Toronto Holmqvist 19,454 13–14–3 29 L 31 December 11 Tampa Bay 3 – 2 Montreal SO Denis 21,273 14–14–3 31 W 32 December 13 Calgary 9 – 6 Tampa Bay Denis 19,026 14–15–3 31 L 33 December 15 Washington 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 18,367 14–16–3 31 L 34 December 18 Tampa Bay 2 – 6 Atlanta Holmqvist 14,060 14–17–3 31 L 35 December 20 Toronto 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ramo 19,131 15–17–3 33 W 36 December 22 Carolina 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Ramo 18,765 15–18–3 33 L 37 December 26 Tampa Bay 2 – 3 Washington Ramo 15,035 15–19–3 33 L 38 December 27 Montreal 5 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 20,294 15–20–3 33 L 39 December 29 Philadelphia 4 – 2 Tampa Bay Ramo 20,124 15–21–3 33 L
January: 6–5–2 (home: 2–4–0; road: 4–1–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 40 January 1 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Toronto SO Ramo 19,347 15–21–4 34 OTL 41 January 3 Tampa Bay 3 – 6 Montreal Ramo 21,273 15–22–4 34 L 42 January 5 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Ottawa OT Holmqvist 20,108 15–22–5 35 OTL 43 January 8 Tampa Bay 5 – 3 NY Rangers Ramo 18,200 16–22–5 37 W 44 January 10 Pittsburgh 4 – 1 Tampa Bay Ramo 20,426 16–23–5 37 L 45 January 12 Tampa Bay 5 – 3 Florida Holmqvist 16,578 17–23–5 39 W 46 January 15 Colorado 3 – 0 Tampa Bay Ramo 17,222 17–24–5 39 L 47 January 18 Tampa Bay 3 – 0 Pittsburgh Holmqvist 17,132 18–24–5 41 W 48 January 19 Tampa Bay 2 – 0 Ottawa Holmqvist 20,091 19–24–5 43 W 49 January 22 Edmonton 3 – 4 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 16,799 20–24–5 45 W 50 January 24 Ottawa 8 – 4 Tampa Bay Ramo 16,346 20–25–5 45 L 51 January 29 Buffalo 4 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 18,920 20–26–5 45 L 52 January 31 Vancouver 3 – 4 Tampa Bay Ramo 17,019 21–26–5 47 W
February: 5–5–2 (home: 2–4–0; road: 3–1–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 53 February 2 Florida 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Ramo 19,977 21–27–5 47 L 54 February 5 Tampa Bay 5 – 4 St. Louis Holmqvist 17,150 22–27–5 49 W 55 February 7 Tampa Bay 5 – 4 Nashville Holmqvist 13,959 23–27–5 51 W 56 February 9 Tampa Bay 1 – 2 Atlanta OT Holmqvist 18,879 23–27–6 52 OTL 57 February 12 Canadiens 2 – 3 Tampa Bay Ramo 17,420 24–27–6 54 W 58 February 14 Tampa Bay 5 – 3 Philadelphia Holmqvist 19,336 25–27–6 56 W 59 February 16 Capitals 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 20,254 25–28–6 56 L 60 February 20 Tampa Bay 3 – 4 Buffalo OT Holmqvist 18,690 25–28–7 57 OTL 61 February 21 Tampa Bay 0 – 1 NY Islanders Ramo 12,382 25–29–7 57 L 62 February 23 Boston 5 – 3 Tampa Bay Holmqvist 20,519 25–30–7 57 L 63 February 27 Minnesota 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Smith 17,211 25–31–7 57 L 64 February 29 Toronto 2 – 3 Tampa Bay OT Smith 20,641 26–31–7 59 OTL
March: 5–8–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 1–6–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 65 March 1 Tampa Bay 1 – 5 Carolina Smith 16,831 26–32–7 59 L 66 March 4 Pittsburgh 2 – 0 Tampa Bay Smith 19,206 26–33–7 59 L 67 March 6 Tampa Bay 2 – 3 Philadelphia Smith 19,217 26–34–7 59 L 68 March 7 Tampa Bay 1 – 2 New Jersey OT Ramo 15,670 26–34–8 60 OTL 69 March 9 Tampa Bay 3 – 5 Columbus Smith 14,796 26–35–8 60 L 70 March 11 NY Islanders 4 – 8 Tampa Bay Ramo 19,111 27–35–8 62 W 71 March 13 Tampa Bay 3 – 1 Boston Smith 13,373 28–35–8 64 W 72 March 15 NY Rangers 0 – 3 Tampa Bay Smith 20,926 29–35–8 66 W 73 March 19 Tampa Bay 4 – 7 Buffalo Ramo 18,690 29–36–8 66 L 74 March 20 Tampa Bay 2 – 4 Pittsburgh Smith 17,044 29–37–8 66 L 75 March 22 Tampa Bay 2 – 4 Florida Smith 18,502 29–38–8 66 L 76 March 25 Florida 1 – 3 Tampa Bay Ramo 16,110 30–38–8 68 W 77 March 27 Washington 4 – 3 Tampa Bay OT Ramo 17,777 30–38–9 69 OTL 78 March 29 Carolina 1 – 2 Tampa Bay Ramo 19,311 31–38–9 71 W 79 March 31 Atlanta 2 – 0 Tampa Bay Smith 17,411 31–39–9 71 L
April: 0–3–0 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 80 April 2 Tampa Bay 2 – 6 Carolina Smith 17,644 31–40–9 71 L 81 April 3 Tampa Bay 1 – 4 Washington Ramo 18,277 31–41–9 71 L 82 April 5 Tampa Bay 1 – 4 Atlanta Smith 18,732 31–42–9 71 L
Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) OTL Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

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

Regular season
Top 10 players	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Vincent Lecavalier	81	40	52	92	-17	89
Martin St. Louis	82	25	58	83	-23	26
Vaclav Prospal (18 Phi)	62	29	28	57	-7	39
Brad Richards (12 Dal)	62	18	33	51	-25	15
Michel Ouellet	64	17	19	36	11	12
Filip Kuba	75	6	25	31	-8	40
Paul Ranger	72	10	21	31	-13	56
Dan Boyle	37	4	21	25	-29	57
Jan Hlavac (18 Nsh)	62	9	13	22	-10	32
Mathieu Darche	73	7	15	22	-14	20

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses;
GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Regular season
Player	GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
Johan Holmqvist (2 Dal)	45	2469	20	16	6	124	0	.890	3.01
Karri Ramo	22	1268	7	10	11	64	0	.899	3.03
Mike Smith (21 Dal)	13	773	3	10	1	28	0	.893	2.79
Marc Denis	10	414	1	5	0	28	0	.864	4.05

Awards and records

• King Clancy Memorial Trophy – Vincent Lecavalier
• NHL Foundation Player Award – Vincent Lecavalier

Records

Milestones

Regular season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Mike Lundin Matt Smaby	1st NHL game	October 4, 2007
Jan Hlavac	100th NHL PIM	October 6, 2007
Filip Kuba	200th NHL PIM	October 13, 2007
Mike Lundin	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	October 18, 2007
Brad Richards	500th NHL game	October 29, 2007
Nick Tarnasky	100th NHL game	October 31, 2007

Transactions

The Lightning have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

June 13, 2007	To Tampa Bay Lightning Chris Gratton	To Florida Panthers 2nd round pick in either 2007 or 2008 – Jacob Markstrom
July 4, 2007	To Tampa Bay Lightning Bryce Lampman	To New York Rangers Mitch Fritz
November 19, 2007	To Tampa Bay Lightning Mario Scalzo	To Dallas Stars Bryce Lampman
January 15, 2008	To Tampa Bay Lightning Junior Lessard	To Dallas Stars Dan Jancevski
February 26, 2008	To Tampa Bay Lightning Mike Smith Jussi Jokinen Jeff Halpern	To Dallas Stars Brad Richards Johan Holmqvist
February 26, 2008	To Tampa Bay Lightning 7th round pick in 2008 – Joacim Eriksson	To Nashville Predators Jan Hlavac
February 26, 2008	To Tampa Bay Lightning Brandon Segal Conditional Draft Pick	To Anaheim Ducks Jay Leach

Free agents

Player Former team Contract terms Michel Ouellet Pittsburgh Penguins 2 years, $2.5 million Craig MacDonald Chicago Blackhawks 1 year, $475,000 Mathieu Darche San Jose Sharks 1 year, $475,000 Brad Lukowich New Jersey Devils 3 years, $4.7 million Jay Leach Boston Bruins 1 year, $525,000 Dan Jancevski Montreal Canadiens 1 year, $500,000

Player New team Cory Sarich Calgary Flames Eric Perrin Atlanta Thrashers Ruslan Fedotenko New York Islanders Luke Richardson Ottawa Senators

Draft picks

Tampa's picks at the 2007 NHL entry draft in Columbus, Ohio.^[9] The Lightning do not have a first round pick, having dealt the 16th overall selection to the Anaheim Ducks.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
2	47	Dana Tyrell	C/RW	Canada	Prince George Cougars (WHL)
3	75	Luca Cunti	C/LW	Switzerland	Dubendorf (Switzerland)
3	77	Alexander Killorn	C	Canada	Deerfield Academy (USHS-MA)
4	107	Mitch Fadden	C	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
5	150	Matt Marshall	C/RW	United States	Noble and Greenough School (USHS–MA)
6	167	Johan Harju	LW	Sweden	Luleå HF (Elitserien)
7	183	Torrie Jung	G	Canada	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
7	197	Michael Ward	D	Canada	Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL)
7	210	Justin Courtnall	LW	Canada	Burnaby Express (BCHL)

Farm teams

American Hockey League

Norfolk Admirals

ECHL

Mississippi Sea Wolves

See also

• 2007–08 NHL season