The 1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the team's inaugural season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They finished sixth in the Norris Division with a record of 23 wins, 54 losses, and 7 ties for 53 points.
Offseason Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito was hired as president and general manager on April 4, 1991.
Terry Crisp was named the team's first head coach on April 23, 1992.
Preseason On September 23, 1992, Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game as the Tampa Bay Lightning played against the St. Louis Blues.
Regular season The Lightning finished last in penalty-kill % during the regular season (74.43%).
In the Lightning's very first NHL game on Wednesday, October 7, 1992, Chris Kontos scored the first hat trick in Lightning history as Tampa Bay defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 (the 7 goals would be the most that the Blackhawks would allow in a regular-season game that year). On Friday, November 13, 1992, Pat Jablonski recorded the first shutout in Lightning history, as Tampa Bay blanked their fellow expansion cousins the Ottawa Senators 1-0 at home.
Although the Lightning finished well out of playoff contention, their 53 points was by far the best inaugural season performance of any of the three expansion teams that joined in the early 1990s. Tampa Bay's 53 points was actually more than the combined totals for that season of the Senators and the San Jose Sharks (who were then in their second season), both of whom recorded only 24 points each.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 7, 1992||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||1–0–0 ||
|2||October 10, 1992||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||1–1–0 ||
|3||October 11, 1992||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||1–1–1 ||
|4||October 13, 1992||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||2–1–1 ||
|5||October 15, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||2–2–1 ||
|6||October 16, 1992||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) ||2–3–1 ||
|7||October 20, 1992||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||3–3–1 ||
|8||October 22, 1992||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||3–4–1 ||
|9||October 24, 1992||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||4–4–1 ||
|10||October 27, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||4–5–1 ||
|11||October 28, 1992||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||4–6–1 ||
|12||October 30, 1992||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||4–7–1 ||
|13||November 1, 1992||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||4–8–1 ||
|14||November 3, 1992||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||5–8–1 ||
|15||November 6, 1992||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||5–8–2 ||
|16||November 7, 1992||6–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1992–93) ||6–8–2 ||
|17||November 9, 1992||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1992–93) ||7–8–2 ||
|18||November 11, 1992||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||8–8–2 ||
|19||November 13, 1992||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||9–8–2 ||
|20||November 14, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1992–93) ||9–9–2 ||
|21||November 17, 1992||5–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||9–10–2 ||
|22||November 19, 1992||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||9–11–2 ||
|23||November 21, 1992||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||9–12–2 ||
|24||November 23, 1992||5–10 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||9–13–2 ||
|25||November 24, 1992||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||10–13–2 ||
|26||November 27, 1992||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1992–93) ||10–14–2 ||
|27||November 28, 1992||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||10–15–2 ||
|28||December 5, 1992||7–9 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||10–16–2 ||
|29||December 7, 1992||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1992–93) ||10–17–2 ||
|30||December 9, 1992||5–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1992–93) ||10–18–2 ||
|31||December 11, 1992||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1992–93) ||10–19–2 ||
|32||December 12, 1992||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||11–19–2 ||
|33||December 15, 1992||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) ||12–19–2 ||
|34||December 16, 1992||5–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||13–19–2 ||
|35||December 18, 1992||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||13–20–2 ||
|36||December 20, 1992||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) ||14–20–2 ||
|37||December 22, 1992||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||14–21–2 ||
|38||December 23, 1992||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||14–22–2 ||
|39||December 31, 1992||0–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||14–23–2 ||
|40||January 2, 1993||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||14–24–2 ||
|41||January 4, 1993||0–7 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||14–25–2 ||
|42||January 6, 1993||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) ||15–25–2 ||
|43||January 9, 1993||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||15–26–2 ||
|44||January 11, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||15–27–2 ||
|45||January 13, 1993||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||15–28–2 ||
|46||January 16, 1993||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||15–29–2 ||
|47||January 17, 1993||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||15–30–2 ||
|48||January 19, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||15–31–2 ||
|49||January 21, 1993||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||15–32–2 ||
|50||January 23, 1993||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||16–32–2 ||
|51||January 24, 1993||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||16–32–3 ||
|52||January 28, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||16–33–3 ||
|53||January 30, 1993||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||17–33–3 ||
|54||February 1, 1993||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||18–33–3 ||
|55||February 3, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||18–34–3 ||
|56||February 9, 1993||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||19–34–3 ||
|57||February 11, 1993||0–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||19–35–3 ||
|58||February 14, 1993||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||19–35–4 ||
|59||February 17, 1993||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||19–36–4 ||
|60||February 19, 1993||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||19–37–4 ||
|61||February 20, 1993||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||19–38–4 ||
|62||February 22, 1993||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) ||19–39–4 ||
|63||February 25, 1993||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||19–40–4 ||
|64||February 27, 1993||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||19–40–5 ||
|65||March 3, 1993||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||20–40–5 ||
|66||March 6, 1993||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1992–93) ||21–40–5 ||
|67||March 9, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||21–41–5 ||
|68||March 12, 1993||2–8 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||21–42–5 ||
|69||March 14, 1993||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||21–43–5 ||
|70||March 16, 1993||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||21–44–5 ||
|71||March 18, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||21–45–5 ||
|72||March 20, 1993||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1992–93) ||21–46–5 ||
|73||March 21, 1993||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||21–47–5 ||
|74||March 23, 1993||3–9 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||21–48–5 ||
|75||March 25, 1993||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||22–48–5 ||
|76||March 27, 1993||3–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||22–49–5 ||
|77||April 1, 1993||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||22–50–5 ||
|78||April 3, 1993||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) ||22–51–5 ||
|79||April 6, 1993||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||22–51–6 ||
|80||April 8, 1993||1–9 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||22–52–6 ||
|81||April 10, 1993||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||22–53–6 ||
|82||April 11, 1993||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||22–53–7 ||
|83||April 13, 1993||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||23–53–7 ||
|84||April 15, 1993||5–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||23–54–7 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Regular season Player 80 42 44 86 -24 92 78 17 39 56 -12 69 66 27 24 51 -7 12 84 15 28 43 -25 74 83 19 20 39 -19 110 55 10 29 39 -21 36 64 12 24 36 -25 70 63 10 21 31 -12 111 ‡ 40 8 21 29 -4 18 77 16 11 27 -14 14 67 12 15 27 -2 23 54 9 15 24 0 62 67 6 15 21 -21 71 63 7 13 20 -20 35 ‡ 66 5 12 17 -21 138 78 2 12 14 -16 66 42 2 11 13 2 69 25 2 7 9 -6 2 ‡ 61 1 8 9 8 150 ‡ 58 4 4 8 -7 154 † 47 3 4 7 -13 18 27 3 3 6 -5 11 11 3 3 6 -6 4 ‡ 14 2 3 5 -3 71 ‡ 13 2 3 5 -5 4 15 0 5 5 1 34 17 0 4 4 -6 38 24 2 1 3 1 10 8 1 1 2 -5 2 6 1 1 2 -4 2 4 1 1 2 -2 2 11 1 1 2 -1 8 † 11 0 2 2 -6 6 4 0 2 2 -2 2 8 0 1 1 -5 7 2 0 0 0 -1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 ‡ 3 0 0 0 -3 0 † 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 -1 11 Total 245 408 653 — 1,608
Goaltenders Regular season Player 21 19 1,163:10 8 10 1 71 3.66 574 .876 0 0 1 2 43 37 2,267:49 8 24 4 150 3.97 1,194 .874 1 0 2 7 31 27 1,591:29 7 19 2 97 3.66 758 .872 0 0 2 2 1 1 45:27 0 1 0 7 9.24 21 .667 0 0 0 0 Total 5,067:55 23 54 7 325 3.85 2,547 .872 1 0 5 11
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Lightning. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. ‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; TOI = Time on ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage;
Awards and honors Brian Bradley, 44th NHL All-Star Game
Transactions
Trades Trades listed are from June 1, 1992 to June 1, 1993.