The 2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning season began October 4, 2007. It is the Lightning's 16th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
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.LIGHTNING UNVEIL MODERNIZED LOGO & JERSEYS , Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club, August 25, 2007
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.https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=215627&hubname=nhl, TSN.ca, August 7, 2007 The deal was terminated in mid-November after the group, called Absolute Hockey Enterprises, began to fight amongst itself, leading to lawsuits being filed.Erlendsson, Erik, Purchase Of Bolts Fizzles; Group Sues Key Investor, TBO.com, November 26, 2007 The team, in announcing the cancellation of the sale, expressed in a November 27 release that it hoped the deal could be resurrected.PALACE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT STATEMENT REGARDING PENDING SALE OF THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING , Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club, November 27, 2007
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.2008 Eastern Conference All-Stars , NHL.com 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.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 4 || New Jersey || 1 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,454 || 1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 6 || Atlanta || 2 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,220 || 2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Florida || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 18,540 || 3–0–0 || 6 ||
| 4 || October 13 || Tampa Bay || 4 – 6 || Florida || || Denis || 15,801 || 3–1–0 || 6 ||
| 5 || October 18 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 4 || Boston || || Holmqvist || 16,363 || 3–2–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 20 || Atlanta || 2 – 6 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,420 || 4–2–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 24 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 5 || Washington || || Denis || 10,226 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 25 || Philadelphia || 2 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 18,616 || 5–3–0 || 10 ||
| 9 || October 27 || Buffalo || 4 – 3 || Tampa Bay || OT || Holmqvist || 19,804 || 5–3–1 || 11 ||
| 10 || October 29 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 3 || NY Rangers || || Holmqvist || 18,200 || 5–4–1 || 11 ||
| 11 || October 31 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 6 || New Jersey || || Holmqvist || 13,218 || 5–5–1 || 11 ||
| 12 || November 1 || Tampa Bay || 0 – 4 || NY Islanders || || Denis || 11,008 || 5–6–1 || 11 ||
| 13 || November 3 || Atlanta || 6 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,155 || 5–7–1 || 11 ||
| 14 || November 5 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Florida || || Holmqvist || 10,149 || 5–8–1 || 11 ||
| 15 || November 7 || Florida || 1 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 16,526 || 6–8–1 || 13 ||
| 16 || November 8 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 1 || Carolina || || Holmqvist || 14,017 || 7–8–1 || 15 ||
| 17 || November 10 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 2 || Washington || || Holmqvist || 14,617 || 8–8–1 || 17 ||
| 18 || November 14 || Carolina || 1 – 6 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 17,444 || 9–8–1 || 19 ||
| 19 || November 16 || Washington || 2 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,526 || 10–8–1 || 21 ||
| 20 || November 19 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || Holmqvist || 13,419 || 10–8–2 || 22 ||
| 21 || November 21 || NY Rangers || 2 – 1 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 20,110 || 10–9–2 || 22 ||
| 22 || November 23 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Carolina || || Holmqvist || 18,033 || 10–10–2 || 22 ||
| 23 || November 24 || New Jersey || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 19,077 || 10–11–2 || 22 ||
| 24 || November 28 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 5 || Chicago || || Holmqvist || 11,122 || 10–12–2 || 22 ||
| 25 || November 29 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Denis || 17,001 || 10–13–2 || 22 ||
| 26 || December 1 || Boston || 1 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 18,444 || 11–13–2 || 24 ||
| 27 || December 4 || Ottawa || 3 – 4 || Tampa Bay || SO || Holmqvist || 17,540 || 12–13–2 || 26 ||
| 28 || December 6 || Carolina || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 16,674 || 13–13–2 || 28 ||
| 29 || December 8 || NY Islanders || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || OT || Holmqvist || 18,319 || 13–13–3 || 29 ||
| 30 || December 10 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 6 || Toronto || || Holmqvist || 19,454 || 13–14–3 || 29 ||
| 31 || December 11 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 2 || Montreal || SO || Denis || 21,273 || 14–14–3 || 31 ||
| 32 || December 13 || Calgary || 9 – 6 || Tampa Bay || || Denis || 19,026 || 14–15–3 || 31 ||
| 33 || December 15 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 18,367 || 14–16–3 || 31 ||
| 34 || December 18 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 6 || Atlanta || || Holmqvist || 14,060 || 14–17–3 || 31 ||
| 35 || December 20 || Toronto || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 19,131 || 15–17–3 || 33 ||
| 36 || December 22 || Carolina || 4 – 1 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 18,765 || 15–18–3 || 33 ||
| 37 || December 26 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 3 || Washington || || Ramo || 15,035 || 15–19–3 || 33 ||
| 38 || December 27 || Montreal || 5 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 20,294 || 15–20–3 || 33 ||
| 39 || December 29 || Philadelphia || 4 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 20,124 || 15–21–3 || 33 ||
| 40 || January 1 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Toronto || SO || Ramo || 19,347 || 15–21–4 || 34 ||
| 41 || January 3 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 6 || Montreal || || Ramo || 21,273 || 15–22–4 || 34 ||
| 42 || January 5 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Ottawa || OT || Holmqvist || 20,108 || 15–22–5 || 35 ||
| 43 || January 8 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 3 || NY Rangers || || Ramo || 18,200 || 16–22–5 || 37 ||
| 44 || January 10 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 1 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 20,426 || 16–23–5 || 37 ||
| 45 || January 12 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 3 || Florida || || Holmqvist || 16,578 || 17–23–5 || 39 ||
| 46 || January 15 || Colorado || 3 – 0 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 17,222 || 17–24–5 || 39 ||
| 47 || January 18 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 0 || Pittsburgh || || Holmqvist || 17,132 || 18–24–5 || 41 ||
| 48 || January 19 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 0 || Ottawa || || Holmqvist || 20,091 || 19–24–5 || 43 ||
| 49 || January 22 || Edmonton || 3 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 16,799 || 20–24–5 || 45 ||
| 50 || January 24 || Ottawa || 8 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 16,346 || 20–25–5 || 45 ||
| 51 || January 29 || Buffalo || 4 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 18,920 || 20–26–5 || 45 ||
| 52 || January 31 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 17,019 || 21–26–5 || 47 ||
| 53 || February 2 || Florida || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 19,977 || 21–27–5 || 47 ||
| 54 || February 5 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 4 || St. Louis || || Holmqvist || 17,150 || 22–27–5 || 49 ||
| 55 || February 7 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 4 || Nashville || || Holmqvist || 13,959 || 23–27–5 || 51 ||
| 56 || February 9 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Holmqvist || 18,879 || 23–27–6 || 52 ||
| 57 || February 12 || Canadiens || 2 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 17,420 || 24–27–6 || 54 ||
| 58 || February 14 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Holmqvist || 19,336 || 25–27–6 || 56 ||
| 59 || February 16 || Capitals || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 20,254 || 25–28–6 || 56 ||
| 60 || February 20 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 4 || Buffalo || OT || Holmqvist || 18,690 || 25–28–7 || 57 ||
| 61 || February 21 || Tampa Bay || 0 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Ramo || 12,382 || 25–29–7 || 57 ||
| 62 || February 23 || Boston || 5 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Holmqvist || 20,519 || 25–30–7 || 57 ||
| 63 || February 27 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Smith || 17,211 || 25–31–7 || 57 ||
| 64 || February 29 || Toronto || 2 – 3 || Tampa Bay || OT || Smith || 20,641 || 26–31–7 || 59 ||
| 65 || March 1 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 5 || Carolina || || Smith || 16,831 || 26–32–7 || 59 ||
| 66 || March 4 || Pittsburgh || 2 – 0 || Tampa Bay || || Smith || 19,206 || 26–33–7 || 59 ||
| 67 || March 6 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Smith || 19,217 || 26–34–7 || 59 ||
| 68 || March 7 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || New Jersey || OT || Ramo || 15,670 || 26–34–8 || 60 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 5 || Columbus || || Smith || 14,796 || 26–35–8 || 60 ||
| 70 || March 11 || NY Islanders || 4 – 8 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 19,111 ||27–35–8 || 62 ||
| 71 || March 13 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 1 || Boston || || Smith || 13,373 || 28–35–8 || 64 ||
| 72 || March 15 || NY Rangers || 0 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Smith || 20,926 || 29–35–8 || 66 ||
| 73 || March 19 || Tampa Bay || 4 – 7 || Buffalo || || Ramo || 18,690 || 29–36–8 || 66 ||
| 74 || March 20 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || Smith || 17,044 || 29–37–8 || 66 ||
| 75 || March 22 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 4 || Florida || || Smith || 18,502 || 29–38–8 || 66 ||
| 76 || March 25 || Florida || 1 – 3 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 16,110 || 30–38–8 || 68 ||
| 77 || March 27 || Washington || 4 – 3 || Tampa Bay || OT || Ramo || 17,777 || 30–38–9 || 69 ||
| 78 || March 29 || Carolina || 1 – 2 || Tampa Bay || || Ramo || 19,311 || 31–38–9 || 71 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Atlanta || 2 – 0 || Tampa Bay || || Smith || 17,411 || 31–39–9 || 71 ||
| 80 || April 2 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 6 || Carolina || || Smith || 17,644 || 31–40–9 || 71 ||
| 81 || April 3 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 4 || Washington || || Ramo || 18,277 || 31–41–9 || 71 ||
| 82 || April 5 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 4 || Atlanta || || Smith || 18,732 || 31–42–9 || 71 ||
Legend:
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 LundinMatt 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 assist1st 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