Latest news and updates about the Lightning
Mikheyev scores twice as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Thursday night, extending their dominance on paper into a decisive victory. The Lightning strike early with two first‑period goals and seal the win with two more in the third, while veteran goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy celebrates his 600th win. The game underscores Tampa Bay’s superiority heading into the next stretch of the season.
After a 6-2 defeat to Columbus, the Colorado Avalanche (9‑6‑1) host the Nashville Predators (6‑4‑5) on Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. MT. Nashville leads the season series 1‑0, having won the first meeting 6‑2, and arrives on a two‑game winning streak after a shootout win over Tampa Bay and a victory at Carolina. Colorado must rebound offensively and tighten defense, with a projected lineup featuring MacKinnon, Landeskog, and Makar in goal behind Blackwood and Wedgewood. Nashville counters with star‑forward Steven Stamkos, Roman Josi on defense, and Juuse Saros in net. The game could flip the series narrative as both clubs seek momentum.
Vasilevskiy is in the seventh season of an eight-year, $76 million contract with Tampa Bay.
Head down to the comments to talk about Thursday’s game against the Lightning! Game Preview
The Utah Mammoth are eyeing three marquee targets to boost their Stanley Cup push, according to insider Pierre LeBrun. GM Bill Armstrong has already explored a trade for goalie Connor Hellebuyck, pursued Detroit's Dylan Larkin, and is set to chase Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov when he hits free agency on July 1. With the Mammoth sitting among the Central Division’s elite but recent form slipping to a 4‑4 split in their last eight games, Armstrong is eager for another splash to cement Utah’s contention status.
The Chicago Blackhawks face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:00 p.m. CT at Benchmark International Arena. View it on CHSN (Chicago) or The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 (Tampa) and stream via the CHSN app, CHSN on Prime Video (Chicago), the Lightning app (Tampa) or ESPN+ out of market. Chicago, 4‑11‑1, is on a four‑game skid; Connor Bedard leads with 12 points, while Patrick Kane misses with an upper‑body injury. Tampa Bay, 9‑3‑2, is unbeaten at home; Nikita Kucherov tops the chart with 20 points. DraftKings lists the Lightning at -425 and the Blackhawks at +330.
The preview warns that the Chicago Blackhawks, despite a promising draft history, may be a “desperate” opponent for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 5, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Tampa. The Lightning enter as 475‑to‑1 favorites at Benchmark International Arena, with TV/stream options on The Spot, CHSN, ESPN+ and radio on 102.5 The Bone. The article questions whether Chicago’s recent talent haul will translate into performance after they traded away a top‑ten pick.
The Detroit Red Wings’ relationship with captain Dylan Larkin appears to be collapsing after the team removed his banner from Little Caesars Arena and suspended him without pay for refusing to play. Reports say Larkin has already given a 10‑team trade list, limiting his options and fueling speculation that a move is inevitable. While Tampa Bay was a rumored destination, Nikita Kucherov’s trade request has shifted the Lightning’s plans. After 12 years and only one postseason appearance, Larkin’s push for a contending team may finally force Detroit to broker a deal.
The Chicago Blackhawks chase their first road win of the 2026‑27 season as they head to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning on Thursday, Nov. 5. The preview highlights Tampa’s status as a once‑dominant dynasty now at a crossroads—still a Cup contender but showing signs of decline. The article weighs Chicago’s uphill battle against a Lightning squad fighting to preserve its competitive window, setting the stage for a pivotal matchup.
The article argues that an Edmonton Oilers acquisition of Nikita Kucherov is unrealistic. Kucherov, who requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, is a top‑five NHL talent but has no intention of being moved, according to GM Julien BriseBois. Edmonton’s core—McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, Hyman, Nugent‑Hopkins, Ekholm and Podkolzin—leaves no roster spot, and trading Podkolzin or other depth assets would undermine team chemistry. Moreover, the Oilers lack sufficient assets, and a $20 million‑plus contract would exceed cap space already earmarked for McDavid and Draisaitl. The piece concludes the Oilers should focus on modest tweaks rather than a blockbuster deal.
Twelve years after Martin St. Louis forced his way to New York, another Lightning icon wants out. Is history about to repeat itself?
After a crushing 6-2 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Colorado Avalanche (9‑6‑1) aim to rebound at home against the Nashville Predators (6‑4‑5) on Nov. 5, 2026, 7:30 p.m. MT. Nashville leads the season series 1‑0 after a 6‑2 win, but the Predators enter on a two‑game streak, fresh from shootout victories over Tampa Bay and Carolina. Colorado must sharpen both offense and defense, with Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Cale Makar anchoring the projected lineup, while goaltender Juuse Saros backs Nashville. The matchup promises a test of whether the Avs can erase the earlier loss and even the scoreline.
The Chicago Blackhawks (4‑11‑1) head to Tampa on Thursday for a back‑to‑back game, facing the 9‑3‑2 Lightning at 6 p.m. CT. After a 5‑3 loss to Florida, Chicago’s only hope is a tighter defensive effort and a shoot‑first approach to snap their 0‑6‑1 road record. Connor Bedard extends his point streak to seven, while Roman Kantserov keeps his to six. Tampa, sitting atop the Eastern Wild Card with a .714 points percentage, comes off a 4‑2 win over Detroit; Brayden Point scored twice and Vasilevskiy posted a 2‑goal shutout. Projected lineups feature Bedard, Kantserov and Tyler Bertuzzi for Chicago, and Point, Kucherov and Guentzel for Tampa, with Vasilevskiy in net against Arvid Söderblom.
The New York Rangers are eager to land Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, but they may face stiff competition from the Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks. Both clubs have the cap space and draft capital to meet Lightning GM Julien BriseBois’s demanding price—a top‑tier NHL‑ready forward, high‑end prospects, and several first‑round picks. Kucherov, who rejected a four‑year, $15 million‑per‑year extension, holds a 10‑team trade list and must approve his destination. While New York offers a Stanley Cup‑contending roster, Seattle and Chicago could outbid on assets, making the trade saga uncertain.
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s future in Tampa Bay could become an interesting storyline despite his current happiness with the Lightning. Meanwhile, Evander Kane is reportedly heading overseas…
Ryan Greene will play in his 100th NHL game on Thursday (Nov. 5) versus the Lightning. He's been a bright spot for the Blackhawks ever since his rookie season.
Agent Dan O'Donnell says Tampa Bay Lightning’s star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is “extremely happy” with the organization, underscoring the franchise’s stability amid growing speculation about other core players. While fans wonder about Nikita Kucherov’s future as his contract expires in summer 2027, Vasilevski’s contentment signals the Lightning may retain its elite netminder for years to come.
It's been nearly a week since the news broke that Nikita Kucherov wasn't re-signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning and had requested a trade. That's sparked ongoing speculation over where he might land if the Lightning decide to move him before the March 1 trade deadline.
The Chicago Blackhawks sit 4-11-1, eighth in the Central Division, after a fourth straight loss and seven defeats in eight games to start the 2026‑27 season. With the league’s lowest offensive output and a porous defense, criticism has intensified. TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette branded the team “soft and pathetic,” sparking backlash from fans and a defensive press conference from coach Jeff Blishill, who rejected the harsh verdict. Despite injury woes, the Hawks hope to halt the skid on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning, though whispers of “Fire Blishill” grow louder.
The Chicago Blackhawks sit at a dismal 4‑11‑1 record after a 5‑3 loss to the Florida Panthers, marking their fourth straight defeat and a league‑worst –27 goal differential. TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette slammed the team as "soft" and "AHL‑level," a sentiment echoed by local fan accounts. Coach Jeff Blashill defended his side, insisting the criticism is unwarranted, while captain Connor Bedard praised Blashill’s coaching in the post‑game interview. With two road games left against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, the Hawks face mounting pressure for drastic changes before the next stretch of the schedule.
The Tampa Bay Lightning surprisingly reassign center Dominic James to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday. With Zemgus Girgensons out until the weekend road trip and Yanni Gourde still rehabbing, the Lightning will be a forward short for at least one game, likely relying on their familiar 11‑forward, 7‑defensemen lineup. The move raises questions about roster depth ahead of the upcoming schedule.
The Sick Podcast’s November 5, 2026 roundup dives into three hot topics: agent Dan Millstein reveals Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov’s recovery timeline and possible return date; former TSN commentator Dan Robertson joins the crew to dissect the Winnipeg Jets’ miracle comeback over Montreal, while Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico analyze forward Juraj Slafkovsky’s struggles. The show also rattles trade chatter, asking if the Bruins‑Canadiens rivalry could spark a deal for Detroit’s Dylan Larkin, whether Boston eyes Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, and if Nikita Kucherov might move from Tampa Bay. Additional banter covers the Tkachuk brothers’ Senators comment and a look at a potential Canucks duo.
The Flyers travel to Madison Square Garden on Thursday to face the Rangers, hoping to improve on a 3-2 loss to the Wild that was marred by a slow start. Center Sean Couturier’s role has shifted, but he remains vital, while former defenseman Emil Andrae, now on waivers after recent trades, is touted as a potential boost. The piece also debates a free‑agency pursuit of Nikita Kucherov, noting his agent’s hints that the Lightning star may be ready to move on and could command a short‑term deal. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks suffer a 7-2 defeat to the Kings, prompting a players‑only meeting.
The Blackhawks travel to Tampa Bay on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to face a Lightning squad that’s 9‑3‑2 at home and riding a 20‑point season from Nikita Kucherov, despite his trade request. Chicago, now 4‑11‑1, is missing Patrick Kane (upper‑body injury) and defenseman Bowen Byram (IR), extending their winless road streak to 0‑6‑1. With Connor Bedard leading the Blackhawks (12 points) and Tampa’s depth—Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point—all eyes are on whether the Lightning can preserve their perfect home record while Kucherov’s future looms. The betting line favors Tampa heavily.
The Chicago Blackhawks slip to 0-6-1 on the road, falling 5-3 to the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on November 5, 2026. Rookie Sandis Vilmanis dazzles with a four‑point night (two goals, two assists), while Sam Reinhart adds the empty‑net goal to seal the win. Chicago’s Frank Nazar nets two goals and Connor Bedard records two assists, extending his point streak to seven games, but goaltender Spencer Knight allows four goals on 29 shots. The loss marks the Blackhawks’ fourth straight defeat and seventh consecutive road loss of the season, dropping their record to 4-11-1. Next up is a road game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.