NHL: Lightning Clinch Franchise Best, Eighth-Consecutive Playoff Berth
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a berth in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs today, as a result of the New York Rangers’ 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
The Bolts will play postseason hockey for a franchise record eighth-consecutive season and the 17th time in club history. Following tonight’s contest at Buffalo, the Lightning will have six regular season games remaining, four at home and two on the road. Tampa Bay’s 2025 postseason is presented by AdventHealth.
Dating back to the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, no other team has played in more postseason games than the Lightning, whose 146 are 48 more than the second-place team, the Dallas Stars, who have appeared in 98. Additionally, no team has won more playoff games during that time, with the Bolts registering 87 victories compared to the Vegas Golden Knights, who rank second, with 57.
Entering play on April 5, the Lightning sit in second place in the Atlantic Division, just three points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will visit AMALIE Arena on April 9. Trailing the Bolts by just one point is their in-state rival, the Florida Panthers, who will battle the Lightning in Tampa on April 15.
More recent Lightning rankings:
Since the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Playoff Wins
o TBL 122
o PIT 112
o BOS 108
Playoff GP
o TBL 213
o BOS 208
o PIT 208
Since the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Playoff Wins
TBL 87
VGK 57
DAL 52
Playoff GP
TBL 146
DAL 98
VGK 95
Since the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Playoff Wins
TBL 51
VGK 41
COL 40
Playoff GP
TBL 82
DAL 72
VGK 68