Feast Your Eyes: Exciting Games of Tampa Bay Lightning

Do you follow the NHL (National Hockey League) closely? Then you need not know about Tampa Bay Lightning, nicknamed Bolts. The team was started in the late 1980s and was named after the city's stature name as the "Lightning Capital of North America".

The team is well-known to have hired a Canadian player Manon Rheaume as a goal tender for an exhibition match, who is the first women player in the history of NHL. However, the lightning could not gear up, until 1992, when it played in the Expo Hall at Tampa and shocked the Blackhawks.

The first ever season (1992-93) has brought a lot of fame and prospects for the team, which also showcased the tricks of Bradley, with 42 goals. However, the record has been overcome by Lecavalier in the 2006-07 season, with 52 goals.

The team had many motivating leaders and players, who contributed to bring the considerably newbie team into the quarter finals in 1995-96. But, it was not until 2003-04, that the Bolts went on to win the Conference Finale and the same year, they have established their rank as a champion in Stanley Cup too. This was a dream season for Tampa Bay Lightning. There were several exciting games played from the 2002 to 2007, especially the ones with Canadiens, Flyers and Flamers in 2004 and with Devils in 2006.

Nevertheless, the Lightning team has lost its thunder in the last 3-4 years and is finding it difficult to establish itself in qualifiers. Recently though, there have been many changes in the team and the management, which seems to have improved their performance and the fans hope to see some exhilarating games in the next season.