Tampa Bay Lightning News – 2013 Lightning Updates
Since becoming in 2004 the second squad from a non-traditional hockey market (after Dallas in 1999) to win a Stanley Cup, the Tampa Bay Lightning have ridden a roller coaster of sorts, between finishing out of the playoff race in four of the seven seasons following, and nearly making the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, losing a hard-fought series to eventual champion Boston in seven games. This season has the Bolts scrambling to stay in the playoff hunt, dueling with fellow non-traditional market Carolina for Southeast Division supremacy. The Lightning are the NHL leaders in goals per game average, with center Stephen Stamkos leading the charge both in goals scored and in total points team and league-wide. Right wing Martin St. Louis is right on Stamkos's heels, leading the Lightning in assists. Also contributing to the Bolts high-powered offense are wings Cory Comacher, Benoit Pouliot, and Teddy Purcell; veteran center Vincent Lecavalier; and defenseman Victor Hedman. Another defenseman, Sami Salo, has had the good fortune to be on the ice much more often during scoring shifts, as he is one of the NHL's leaders in plus-minus. Defensively, however, the Bolts are another story, as goalies Anders Lindback and Mathieu Garon have had some difficulty keeping the puck out of the net, leading to a goals-against average which is among the worst in the league. Coach Guy Boucher has to be happy with the offense, but he will have his hands full with prodding the Lightning into the playoffs as long as the defense has holes.
How hot are Tampa Bay Lightning tickets? Tickets to see the Bolts play at Tampa Bay Times Forum average only $68 — one the five best
NHL tickets deals this season. Lightning fans should expect to pay more when the
Montreal Canadiens ($129),
Pittsburgh Penguins ($120), and
Philadelphia Flyers ($77) visit Tampa. Other upcoming games on the 2013 Tampa Bay Lightning schedule include:
New York Islanders (3/14),
New Jersey Devils (3/29), and
Florida Panthers (4/2, 4/27). Surprisingly, Lightning road game tickets average almost $40 more per ticket than at home, with away games in major hockey markets like Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Toronto.