Lightning return to postseason for eighth straight year

You can’t keep the Tampa Bay Lightning out of the postseason.

Ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Atlantic Division rival Buffalo Sabres, the Lightning got some help on the out-of-town scoreboard as a regulation loss for the New York Rangers helped the Bolts secure their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In all, it marks the eighth consecutive season in which the Lightning have qualified for the playoffs. This season, the Lightning stand 44-26-5 and three points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Headlined by reigning Art Ross Trophy recipient Nikita Kucherov, the 31-year-old Russian-born forward has again dazzled this season where through 71 appearances he has racked up 33 goals and 78 assists for 111 points, putting him three back of Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead.

A second-round selection from the 2011 NHL Draft, Kucherov has spent part of 12 seasons with the Lightning where through 796 career contests he has registered 353 goals and 631 assists for 984 points, putting him second in franchise scoring behind former captain Steven Stamkos. With the Lightning, Kucherov helped power the club to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, where through both runs he led the league with a combined 66 points in 48 postseason appearances.

Beyond Kucherov, the Lightning have three other skaters in Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel who have reached the 30-plus goal plateau this season, while between the pipes 30-year-old Russian-born netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy continues to dominate. Through 59 appearances this season, the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has posted a 36-20-3 record coupled with a .922 save percentage, 2.14 goals-against average, and six shutouts.

The Lightning enter the postseason in search of the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup title following past wins in 2021, 2020, and 2004.