# 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).
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" has been 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.
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. The deal was terminated in mid-November after the group, called Absolute Hockey Enterprises, began to fight amongst itself, leading to lawsuits being filed. The team, in announcing the cancellation of the sale, expressed in a November 27 release that it hoped the deal could be resurrected.
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. 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

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)

### Game log
#### October

Record: 5–5–1; home: 5–0–1; road: 0–5–0.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

#### November

Record: 5–8–1; home: 3–3–0; road: 2–5–1.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

#### December

Record: 5–8–1; home: 4–5–1; road: 1–3–0.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

#### January

Record: 6–5–2; home: 2–4–0; road: 4–1–2.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

#### February

Record: 5–5–2; home: 2–4–0; road: 3–1–2.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

#### March

Record: 5–8–2; home: 4–2–1; road: 1–6–1.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

### April

Record: 0–3–0; home: 0–0–0; road: 0–3–0.
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
| 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 |

## Playoffs

The Lightning failed with qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2001–02 season, snapping their four season playoff streak.

## Player stats
### 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

### 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. 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