Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 Stanley Cup Odds
The Tampa Bay Lighting saw their Eastern Conference dynasty end in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after three consecutive titles. Still, the Lighting remains one of the NHL's best teams and remains a bona fide Stanley Cup contender. Or at least that is what the public perception is. Gamblers don’t seem prepared for a potential drop in relevance from the Tampa Bay Lightning. They got their two Cups. But they paid their core stars, and now might be time to pay the piper.
2024 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL Betting Lines
The 2022-23 Tampa Bay Lightning were 46-30-6 straight up and 40-33 over/under the total. Also, Tampa Bay was 2nd in the Atlantic Division playoff standings. In the Atlantic Division race, Tampa Bay was 37 points behind the Boston Bruins. Tampa Bay had NHL rankings of 8th for goals scored and 3rd for power play efficiency. In comparison on defense, the Lightning had NHL rankings of 15th for goals against and 15th for penalty killing.
First among Tampa Bay scorers was Nikita Kucherov with 30 goals, 83 assists, 113 points, and a -2. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had a .915 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average. His record was 34-22-4 with four shutouts.
Head coach Jon Cooper is the NHL's longest-tenured coach. He guided Tampa Bay to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and another Cup Final. Even with last season's disappointing first-round playoff exit, it's safe to say the Lightning like what they've got in Cooper. For now, anyway.
What can Tampa Bay do with literally no money to spend? The Lightning used practically every dollar and high draft pick they had to fund those Cup runs, and surely the organization has no regrets, given the results. At this point, though, Tampa Bay is saddled with long-term contracts doled out to some now-aging veterans, hoping that big commitments made to other key players (including Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli) will continue paying dividends.
All that is to say, except for bringing on Sheary and not extending Killorn, the Lightning won't look too different in October than in April. Having to trade away Colton wasn't ideal, but the cash wasn't there to keep him in the fold. Tampa Bay had to know the well would eventually dry up, and it would have to ride with decisions made in years past that fueled their success. Somehow, the Lightning will have to pivot and find new ways to win with the personnel available.
Season-by-Season Record (Last 5)
| SEASON |
GAMES |
WINS |
LOSSES |
FINISH |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2022–23 |
82 |
46 |
30 |
3rd, Atlantic |
Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Maple Leafs) |
| 2021–22 |
82 |
51 |
23 |
3rd, Atlantic |
Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 2–4 (Avalanche) |
| 2020–21 |
56 |
36 |
17 |
3rd, Central |
Stanley Cup Champions, 4–1 (Canadiens) |
| 2019–20 |
70 |
43 |
21 |
2nd, Atlantic |
Stanley Cup Champions, 4–2 (Stars) |
| 2018–19 |
82 |
62 |
16 |
1st, Atlantic |
Lost in First Round, 0–4 (Blue Jackets) |
Tampa Bay Lightning History
Founded in 1992 as an expansion team with the Ottawa Senators, the Tampa Bay Lightning has emerged as one of the great rags to riches stories in the history of professional sports.
NHL Hall of Fame legend Phil Esposito founded the franchise with Japanese financing. Originally, the Bolts had to play in a small Fairgrounds arena and later the MLB Tampa Bay Rays home. There were times when it looked like the franchise would move. But Jeffrey Vinik saved the day when he bought the team. Tampa Bay now boasts a model NHL franchise. The Lightning has won three Stanley Cup championships in their history.
Jeffry Vinik runs a franchise that is the envy of nearly all professional sports teams. Tampa Bay sets the standard for community involvement and fan engagement. Most important of all, they are a perennial championship contender. The Lightning were constructed intelligently through the draft and are masterfully coached by Jon Cooper. Vinik has shown that an NHL franchise can succeed anywhere if it is run the right way.
The Lightning has won three Stanley Cup championships in their history, including 2020 and 2021. Tampa Bay has made the past three Stanley Cup Finals. Since being picked first overall in the 2008 NHL Draft, Steven Stamkos has been a foundational marquee man for the Lightning. And goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has emerged as arguably the best in the game.
NHL Teams
Eastern Conference - Atlantic
Eastern Conference - Metropolitan
Western Conference - Central
Western Conference - Pacific
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