| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1993–94 |
| Year: | 1993 |
| Team: | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Record: | 30–43–11 |
| Homerecord: | 14–21–6 |
| Roadrecord: | 16–22–5 |
| Conferencerank: | 12th |
| Divisionrank: | 7th |
| Goalsfor: | 224 |
| Goalsagainst: | 251 |
| Captain: | Vacant |
| Minorleague: | Atlanta Knights (IHL) Knoxville Cherokees (ECHL) |
| Goalsleader: | Petr Klima (28) |
| Assistsleader: | Brian Bradley (40) |
| Pointsleader: | Brian Bradley (64) |
| Plusminusleader: | John Tucker (+9) |
| Pimleader: | Roman Hamrlik (135) |
| Winsleader: | Daren Puppa (22) |
| Gaaleader: | Wendell Young (2.50) |
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.
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.[1]
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L | October 6, 1993 | 1–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) | 0–1–0 | |
| 2 | L | October 7, 1993 | 4–5 | @ New York Rangers (1993–94) | 0–2–0 | |
| 3 | L | October 9, 1993 | 0–2 | Florida Panthers (1993–94) | 0–3–0 | |
| 4 | W | October 14, 1993 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) | 1–3–0 | |
| 5 | W | October 16, 1993 | 4–1 | Ottawa Senators (1993–94) | 2–3–0 | |
| 6 | T | October 17, 1993 | 3–3 OT | @ Florida Panthers (1993–94) | 2–3–1 | |
| 7 | L | October 20, 1993 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1993–94) | 2–4–1 | |
| 8 | W | October 22, 1993 | 4–1 | New York Rangers (1993–94) | 3–4–1 | |
| 9 | L | October 23, 1993 | 0–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) | 3–5–1 | |
| 10 | L | October 27, 1993 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1993–94) | 3–6–1 | |
| 11 | L | October 29, 1993 | 2–4 | New York Islanders (1993–94) | 3–7–1 | |
| 12 | L | October 30, 1993 | 1–2 OT | @ Florida Panthers (1993–94) | 3–8–1 | |
| 13 | L | November 2, 1993 | 2–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) | 3–9–1 | |
| 14 | L | November 3, 1993 | 0–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) | 3–10–1 | |
| 15 | T | November 6, 1993 | 1–1 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1993–94) | 3–10–2 | |
| 16 | L | November 8, 1993 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (1993–94) | 3–11–2 | |
| 17 | L | November 11, 1993 | 1–4 | Washington Capitals (1993–94) | 3–12–2 | |
| 18 | W | November 13, 1993 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) | 4–12–2 | |
| 19 | L | November 17, 1993 | 3–4 | @ Dallas Stars (1993–94) | 4–13–2 | |
| 20 | L | November 19, 1993 | 3–5 | New York Rangers (1993–94) | 4–14–2 | |
| 21 | W | November 20, 1993 | 4–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94) | 5–14–2 | |
| 22 | W | November 24, 1993 | 4–1 | Hartford Whalers (1993–94) | 6–14–2 | |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1993 | 0–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) | 6–15–2 | |
| 24 | L | November 27, 1993 | 3–4 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) | 6–16–2 | |
| 25 | L | December 1, 1993 | 0–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) | 6–17–2 | |
| 26 | W | December 4, 1993 | 5–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1993–94) | 7–17–2 | |
| 27 | W | December 5, 1993 | 4–2 | @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94) | 8–17–2 | |
| 28 | W | December 7, 1993 | 3–1 | @ San Jose Sharks (1993–94) | 9–17–2 | |
| 29 | L | December 11, 1993 | 3–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) | 9–18–2 | |
| 30 | T |
| 1–1 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) | 9–18–3 | |
| 31 | W | December 15, 1993 | 4–3 | Ottawa Senators (1993–94) | 10–18–3 | |
| 32 | L | December 18, 1993 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1993–94) | 10–19–3 | |
| 33 | T | December 19, 1993 | 3–3 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) | 10–19–4 | |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1993 | 3–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) | 10–20–4 | |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1993 | 4–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1993–94) | 10–21–4 | |
| 36 | L |
| 1–3 | Florida Panthers (1993–94) | 10–22–4 | |
| 37 | W | December 28, 1993 | 4–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) | 11–22–4 | |
| 38 | W | December 30, 1993 | 3–0 | @ Ottawa Senators (1993–94) | 12–22–4 | |
| 39 | T | January 1, 1994 | 5–5 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) | 12–22–5 | |
| 40 | L |
| 1–4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94) | 12–23–5 | |
| 41 | W | January 4, 1994 | 1–0 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) | 13–23–5 | |
| 42 | W | January 8, 1994 | 4–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) | 14–23–5 | |
| 43 | W | January 10, 1994 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1993–94) | 15–23–5 | |
| 44 | W | January 12, 1994 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) | 16–23–5 | |
| 45 | L | January 13, 1994 | 0–1 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94) | 16–24–5 | |
| 46 | W | January 16, 1994 | 3–2 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1993–94) | 17–24–5 | |
| 47 | L | January 17, 1994 | 3–6 | Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) | 17–25–5 | |
| 48 | W | January 19, 1994 | 4–3 OT | New York Islanders (1993–94) | 18–25–5 | |
| 49 | W |
| 4–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) | 19–25–5 | |
| 50 | T | January 26, 1994 | 1–1 OT | Florida Panthers (1993–94) | 19–25–6 | |
| 51 | L | January 29, 1994 | 1–2 | San Jose Sharks (1993–94) | 19–26–6 | |
| 52 | L | February 2, 1994 | 1–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1993–94) | 19–27–6 | |
| 53 | L | February 5, 1994 | 3–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) | 19–28–6 | |
| 54 | W | February 7, 1994 | 2–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94) | 20–28–6 | |
| 55 | W | February 10, 1994 | 6–2 | @ Ottawa Senators (1993–94) | 21–28–6 | |
| 56 | L | February 12, 1994 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1993–94) | 21–29–6 | |
| 57 | T | February 13, 1994 | 3–3 OT | New Jersey Devils (1993–94) | 21–29–7 | |
| 58 | L | February 15, 1994 | 1–2 | @ New York Islanders (1993–94) | 21–30–7 | |
| 59 | W | February 17, 1994 | 4–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) | 22–30–7 | |
| 60 | L | February 19, 1994 | 4–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) | 22–31–7 | |
| 61 | T | February 20, 1994 | 2–2 OT | Boston Bruins (1993–94) | 22–31–8 | |
| 62 | W | February 24, 1994 | 4–0 | @ Calgary Flames (1993–94) | 23–31–8 | |
| 63 | L | February 26, 1994 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1993–94) | 23–32–8 | |
| 64 | L | February 27, 1994 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1993–94) | 23–33–8 | |
| 65 | W | March 1, 1994 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1993–94) | 24–33–8 | |
| 66 | L | March 3, 1994 | 4–5 OT | New Jersey Devils (1993–94) | 24–34–8 | |
| 67 | W | March 5, 1994 | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers (1993–94) | 25–34–8 | |
| 68 | L | March 6, 1994 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) | 25–35–8 | |
| 69 | L | March 9, 1994 | 1–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1993–94) | 25–36–8 | |
| 70 | T | March 13, 1994 | 5–5 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94) | 25–36–9 | |
| 71 | L | March 15, 1994 | 3–7 | Calgary Flames (1993–94) | 25–37–9 | |
| 72 | T | March 16, 1994 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1993–94) | 25–37–10 | |
| 73 | L |
| 0–3 | Washington Capitals (1993–94) | 25–38–10 | |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1994 | 4–5 OT | @ New York Islanders (1993–94) | 25–39–10 | |
| 75 | L | March 24, 1994 | 1–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1993–94) | 25–40–10 | |
| 76 | T | March 27, 1994 | 2–2 OT | Dallas Stars (1993–94) | 25–40–11 | |
| 77 | W | March 30, 1994 | 3–2 OT | @ Buffalo Sabres (1993–94) | 26–40–11 | |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1994 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1993–94) | 27–40–11 | |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1994 | 1–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94) | 27–41–11 | |
| 80 | W | April 6, 1994 | 3–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94) | 28–41–11 | |
| 81 | W | April 9, 1994 | 3–0 | @ Boston Bruins (1993–94) | 29–41–11 | |
| 82 | L | April 10, 1994 | 4–6 | @ Hartford Whalers (1993–94) | 29–42–11 | |
| 83 | L | April 13, 1994 | 0–2 | New York Islanders (1993–94) | 29–43–11 | |
| 84 | W | April 14, 1994 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1993–94) | 30–43–11 |
| 78 | 24 | 40 | 64 | -8 | 56 | ||
| 75 | 28 | 27 | 55 | -15 | 76 | ||
| 74 | 18 | 28 | 46 | -1 | 106 | ||
| 81 | 20 | 23 | 43 | 7 | 32 | ||
| 84 | 13 | 29 | 42 | -25 | 123 | ||
| 66 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 9 | 28 | ||
| 66 | 11 | 23 | 34 | -6 | 23 | ||
| † | 66 | 10 | 19 | 29 | -13 | 108 | |
| † | 63 | 12 | 14 | 26 | -18 | 64 | |
| 76 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 8 | 23 | ||
| 64 | 3 | 18 | 21 | -14 | 135 | ||
| 53 | 10 | 10 | 20 | -7 | 37 | ||
| 83 | 1 | 15 | 16 | -5 | 87 | ||
| 75 | 8 | 7 | 15 | -9 | 30 | ||
| ‡ | 39 | 8 | 7 | 15 | -5 | 40 | |
| 51 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -6 | 74 | ||
| 59 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -9 | 42 | ||
| ‡ | 73 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 127 | |
| 51 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -14 | 6 | ||
| 71 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 118 | ||
| ‡ | 51 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 48 | |
| 22 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 8 | ||
| ‡ | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -11 | 12 | |
| 27 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 77 | ||
| 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||
| † | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 52 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 6 | ||
| † | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 13 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | ||
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 10 | ||
| Total | 224 | 355 | 579 | — | 1,567 | ||
| 63 | 62 | 3,652:30 | 22 | 33 | 6 | 165 | 2.71 | 1,637 | .899 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 15 | 13 | 833:46 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 54 | 3.89 | 374 | .856 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 | 6 | 479:42 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 2.50 | 211 | .905 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 134:08 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3.13 | 69 | .899 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5,100:06 | 30 | 43 | 11 | 246 | 2.89 | 2,291 | .893 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
† 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;
| Date | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| To Detroit Red Wings Steve Maltais | To Tampa Bay Lightning Dennis Vial | ||
| To Edmonton Oilers 1994 3rd-round pick (60th overall) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Petr Klima | ||
| To San Jose Sharks Dave Capuano | To Tampa Bay Lightning Peter Ahola | ||
| To Florida Panthers 1993 3rd-round pick (78th overall) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Panthers agreed to select Daren Puppa in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft | ||
| To New York Rangers Glenn Healy | To Tampa Bay Lightning 1993 TB 3rd-round pick (55th overall) | ||
| To Calgary Flames Peter Ahola | To Tampa Bay Lightning Cash | ||
| To Washington Capitals 1995 Conditional 5th-round pick (108th overall) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Pat Elynuik | ||
| To Edmonton Oilers Bob Beers | To Tampa Bay Lightning Chris Joseph | ||
| To Toronto Maple Leafs Pat Jablonski | To Tampa Bay Lightning Future Considerations (Cash) | ||
| To Philadelphia Flyers Rob DiMaio | To Tampa Bay Lightning Jim Cummins 1995 4th-round pick (100th overall) | ||
| To Los Angeles Kings Donald Dufresne | To Tampa Bay Lightning 1994 6th-round pick (137th overall) | ||
| To Washington Capitals Joe Reekie | To Tampa Bay Lightning Enrico Ciccone 1994 3rd-round pick (67th overall) 1995 Conditional 5th-round pick (108th overall) | ||
| To New Jersey Devils 1994 4th-round pick (91st overall) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Jeff Toms | ||
| Date | Player | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 1993 | |||
| July 21, 1993 | from Detroit Red Wings | ||
| July 23, 1993 | from Montreal Canadiens | ||
| August 10, 1993 | from Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| August 13, 1993 | from Edmonton Oilers | ||
| September 27, 1993 | |||
| September 28, 1993 |
The following two players were selected from the Tampa Bay Lightning roster in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft:
| Pick # | Player | Selected by | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | ||
| 41 | Florida Panthers |
In the second phase of the Expansion Draft, Tampa Bay Lightning selected the following players from the Panthers and Mighty Ducks:
| Pick # | Player | Selected from | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | ||
| 4 | Florida Panthers |
| Date | Player | Via | New Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL) | ||
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | Quebec Nordiques | ||
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) | ||
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | Boston Bruins | ||
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | Grasshopper Club Zürich (CHE.2) | ||
| July 1, 1993 | Free agency | EV MAK Bruneck (AL) | ||
| August 1, 1993 | Buyout | Ottawa Senators | ||
| August 1, 1993 | Retired |
Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft held at the Quebec Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec.
| Round | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Chris Gratton | C | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | ||
| 2 | 29 | Tyler Moss | G | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | ||
| 3 | 55 | Allan Egeland | C | Tacoma Rockets (WHL) | ||
| 4 | 81 | Marian Kacir | RW | Owen Sound Platers (OHL) | ||
| 5 | 107 | Ryan Brown | D | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | ||
| 6 | 133 | Kiley Hill | LW | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) | ||
| 7 | 159 | Mathieu Raby | D | Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) | ||
| 8 | 185 | Ryan Nauss | LW | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | ||
| 9 | 211 | Alexandre LaPorte | D | Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) | ||
| 10 | 237 | Brett Duncan | D | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | ||
| 11 | 263 | Mark Szoke | LW | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) | ||
| S | 3 | LW | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |