View source for 1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season

{{short description|National Hockey League team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox ice hockey team season
 |League=NHL
 |Season=1996–97
 |year=1996
 |Team=Tampa Bay Lightning
 |Record=32–40–10
 |HomeRecord=15–18–8
 |RoadRecord=17–22–2
 |Conference=[[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]]
 |ConferenceRank=11th
 |Division=[[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
 |DivisionRank=6th
 |GoalsFor=217
 |GoalsAgainst=247
 |GeneralManager=[[Phil Esposito]]
 |Coach=[[Terry Crisp]]
 |Captain=[[Paul Ysebaert]]
 |AltCaptain=
 |Arena=[[Ice Palace (Tampa arena)|Ice Palace]]
 |Attendance=17,442
 |MinorLeague=[[Adirondack Red Wings]]
 |GoalsLeader=[[Dino Ciccarelli]] (35)
 |AssistsLeader=[[John Cullen]] (37)
 |PointsLeader=[[Chris Gratton]] (62)
 |PIMLeader=Chris Gratton (201)
 |PlusMinusLeader=[[Bill Houlder]] (+16)
 |WinsLeader=[[Rick Tabaracci]] (20)
 |GAALeader=Rick Tabaracci (2.75)
}}
The '''1996–97 Tampa Bay Lightning season''' was the Lightning's fifth season of operation. The Lightning were unable to qualify for the playoffs despite making their first playoff appearance the previous year and losing to the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] in the first round.

==Regular season==

===Final standings===
{{1996–97 NHL Atlantic Division standings|team=TBL}}
{{1996–97 NHL Eastern Conference standings|team=TBL}}

==Schedule and results==
{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 5px solid;|title=1996–97 regular season<ref>{{cite web |title=1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/1997_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=July 22, 2023}}</ref>}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=October: 5–4–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 4–1–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|1||W||October 5, 1996||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] ([[1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1996–97]]) ||1–0–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020006}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|2||L||October 11, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| @ [[Washington Capitals]] ([[1996–97 Washington Capitals season|1996–97]]) ||1–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020039}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|3||W||October 12, 1996||7–4 || align="left"| @ [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] ([[1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1996–97]]) ||2–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020050}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|4||W||October 15, 1996||4–0 || align="left"| @ [[Buffalo Sabres]] ([[1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season|1996–97]]) ||3–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020059}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|5||W||October 20, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| [[New York Rangers]] ([[1996–97 New York Rangers season|1996–97]]) ||4–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020087}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|6||W||October 22, 1996||6–3 || align="left"| @ [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||5–1–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020094}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|7||L||October 24, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| [[Ottawa Senators]] ([[1996–97 Ottawa Senators season|1996–97]]) ||5–2–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020108}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|8||L||October 26, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||5–3–0 || {{NHL recap|1996020118}}
|- align="center"
|9||T||October 29, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| [[Chicago Blackhawks]] ([[1996–97 Chicago Blackhawks season|1996–97]]) ||5–3–1 || {{NHL recap|1996020133}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|10||L||October 31, 1996||3–4 || align="left"|  [[Philadelphia Flyers]] ([[1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season|1996–97]]) ||5–4–1 || {{NHL recap|1996020148}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=November: 2–10–1 (home: 1–5–1; road: 1–5–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|11||L||November 2, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||5–5–1 || {{NHL recap|1996020160}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|12||W||November 4, 1996||5–3 || align="left"| @ [[New York Rangers]] ([[1996–97 New York Rangers season|1996–97]]) ||6–5–1 || {{NHL recap|1996020171}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|13||L||November 6, 1996||1–2 || align="left"|  [[Washington Capitals]] ([[1996–97 Washington Capitals season|1996–97]]) ||6–6–1 || {{NHL recap|1996020178}}
|- align="center" 
|14||T||November 8, 1996||5–5 OT|| align="left"|  [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] ([[1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1996–97]]) ||6–6–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020190}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|15||L||November 10, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ [[Detroit Red Wings]] ([[1996–97 Detroit Red Wings season|1996–97]]) ||6–7–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020205}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|16||L||November 14, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ [[St. Louis Blues]] ([[1996–97 St. Louis Blues season|1996–97]]) ||6–8–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020227}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|17||L||November 16, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||6–9–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020239}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|18||W||November 19, 1996||3–0 || align="left"|  [[Los Angeles Kings]] ([[1996–97 Los Angeles Kings season|1996–97]]) ||7–9–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020254}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|19||L||November 23, 1996||1–2 || align="left"|  [[Philadelphia Flyers]] ([[1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season|1996–97]]) ||7–10–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020278}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|20||L||November 25, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ [[Montreal Canadiens]] ([[1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season|1996–97]]) ||7–11–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020287}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|21||L||November 27, 1996||0–3 || align="left"|  [[Buffalo Sabres]] ([[1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season|1996–97]]) ||7–12–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020297}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|22||L||November 29, 1996||1–2 || align="left"|  [[Dallas Stars]] ([[1996–97 Dallas Stars season|1996–97]]) ||7–13–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020309}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|23||L||November 30, 1996||3–6 || align="left"|  [[Hartford Whalers]] ([[1996–97 Hartford Whalers season|1996–97]]) ||7–14–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020317}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=December: 5–5–3 (home: 2–1–3; road: 3–4–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|24||L||December 4, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ [[Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] ([[1996–97 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season|1996–97]]) ||7–15–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020340}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|25||W||December 5, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ [[Los Angeles Kings]] ([[1996–97 Los Angeles Kings season|1996–97]]) ||8–15–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020345}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|26||W||December 7, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ [[San Jose Sharks]] ([[1996–97 San Jose Sharks season|1996–97]]) ||9–15–2 || {{NHL recap|1996020361}}
|- align="center" 
|27||T||December 12, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  [[Edmonton Oilers]] ([[1996–97 Edmonton Oilers season|1996–97]]) ||9–15–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020383}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|28||W||December 14, 1996||4–1 || align="left"|  [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||10–15–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020395}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|29||W||December 16, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ [[Montreal Canadiens]] ([[1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season|1996–97]]) ||11–15–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020405}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|30||L||December 18, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ [[Buffalo Sabres]] ([[1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season|1996–97]]) ||11–16–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020414}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|31||L||December 19, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| @ [[Boston Bruins]] ([[1996–97 Boston Bruins season|1996–97]]) ||11–17–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020420}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|32||L||December 21, 1996||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Hartford Whalers]] ([[1996–97 Hartford Whalers season|1996–97]]) ||11–18–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020433}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|33||L||December 23, 1996||1–3 || align="left"|  [[Washington Capitals]] ([[1996–97 Washington Capitals season|1996–97]]) ||11–19–3 || {{NHL recap|1996020449}}
|- align="center" 
|34||T||December 26, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"|  [[Florida Panthers]] ([[1996–97 Florida Panthers season|1996–97]]) ||11–19–4 || {{NHL recap|1996020459}}
|- align="center" 
|35||T||December 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"|  [[Montreal Canadiens]] ([[1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season|1996–97]]) ||11–19–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020474}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|36||W||December 31, 1996||4–2 || align="left"|  [[New York Rangers]] ([[1996–97 New York Rangers season|1996–97]]) ||12–19–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020491}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=January: 6–5–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 4–4–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|37||W||January 3, 1997||3–2 || align="left"|  [[Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] ([[1996–97 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season|1996–97]]) ||13–19–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020510}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|38||L||January 4, 1997||3–7 || align="left"| @ [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] ([[1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1996–97]]) ||13–20–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020515}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|39||W||January 6, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ [[Ottawa Senators]] ([[1996–97 Ottawa Senators season|1996–97]]) ||14–20–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020525}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|40||W||January 8, 1997||4–3 || align="left"| @ [[New York Rangers]] ([[1996–97 New York Rangers season|1996–97]]) ||15–20–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020535}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|41||W||January 9, 1997||3–1 || align="left"| @ [[Philadelphia Flyers]] ([[1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season|1996–97]]) ||16–20–5 || {{NHL recap|1996020542}}
|- align="center" 
|42||T||January 11, 1997||4–4 OT|| align="left"|  [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||16–20–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020556}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|43||W||January 13, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ [[Chicago Blackhawks]] ([[1996–97 Chicago Blackhawks season|1996–97]]) ||17–20–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020570}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|44||L||January 15, 1997||2–4 || align="left"| @ [[Colorado Avalanche]] ([[1996–97 Colorado Avalanche season|1996–97]]) ||17–21–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020581}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|45||W||January 21, 1997||3–2 OT|| align="left"|  [[Colorado Avalanche]] ([[1996–97 Colorado Avalanche season|1996–97]]) ||18–21–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020594}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|46||L||January 25, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ [[Florida Panthers]] ([[1996–97 Florida Panthers season|1996–97]]) ||18–22–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020622}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|47||L||January 27, 1997||3–5 || align="left"| @ [[Ottawa Senators]] ([[1996–97 Ottawa Senators season|1996–97]]) ||18–23–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020628}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|48||L||January 30, 1997||1–4 || align="left"|  [[Montreal Canadiens]] ([[1996–97 Montreal Canadiens season|1996–97]]) ||18–24–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020646}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=February: 6–6–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 1–4–0)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|49||L||February 1, 1997||0–3 || align="left"|  [[Boston Bruins]] ([[1996–97 Boston Bruins season|1996–97]]) ||18–25–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020658}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|50||W||February 4, 1997||2–0 || align="left"| @ [[Phoenix Coyotes]] ([[1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes season|1996–97]]) ||19–25–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020678}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|51||L||February 5, 1997||0–4 || align="left"| @ [[Dallas Stars]] ([[1996–97 Dallas Stars season|1996–97]]) ||19–26–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020683}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|52||L||February 8, 1997||1–3 || align="left"|  [[Buffalo Sabres]] ([[1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season|1996–97]]) ||19–27–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020700}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|53||L||February 12, 1997||2–5 || align="left"| @ [[Florida Panthers]] ([[1996–97 Florida Panthers season|1996–97]]) ||19–28–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020719}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|54||L||February 14, 1997||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Washington Capitals]] ([[1996–97 Washington Capitals season|1996–97]]) ||19–29–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020731}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|55||W||February 15, 1997||4–1 || align="left"|  [[Washington Capitals]] ([[1996–97 Washington Capitals season|1996–97]]) ||20–29–6 || {{NHL recap|1996020737}}
|- align="center" 
|56||T||February 17, 1997||3–3 OT|| align="left"|  [[Detroit Red Wings]] ([[1996–97 Detroit Red Wings season|1996–97]]) ||20–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020750}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|57||W||February 20, 1997||5–2 || align="left"|  [[Philadelphia Flyers]] ([[1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season|1996–97]]) ||21–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020765}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|58||W||February 22, 1997||3–1 || align="left"|  [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||22–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020778}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|59||W||February 23, 1997||4–3 || align="left"|  [[San Jose Sharks]] ([[1996–97 San Jose Sharks season|1996–97]]) ||23–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020786}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|60||W||February 25, 1997||3–2 || align="left"|  [[St. Louis Blues]] ([[1996–97 St. Louis Blues season|1996–97]]) ||24–29–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020793}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|61||L||February 27, 1997||2–6 || align="left"| @ [[Boston Bruins]] ([[1996–97 Boston Bruins season|1996–97]]) ||24–30–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020804}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=March: 5–8–1 (home: 3–6–0; road: 2–2–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|62||W||March 1, 1997||2–0 || align="left"|  [[Florida Panthers]] ([[1996–97 Florida Panthers season|1996–97]]) ||25–30–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020818}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|63||W||March 4, 1997||6–3 || align="left"| @ [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||26–30–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020833}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|64||L||March 6, 1997||0–5 || align="left"|  [[Phoenix Coyotes]] ([[1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes season|1996–97]]) ||26–31–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020847}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|65||L||March 8, 1997||4–6 || align="left"|  [[Boston Bruins]] ([[1996–97 Boston Bruins season|1996–97]]) ||26–32–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020857}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|66||W||March 9, 1997||2–1 OT|| align="left"|  [[Calgary Flames]] ([[1996–97 Calgary Flames season|1996–97]]) ||27–32–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020864}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|67||L||March 13, 1997||0–3 || align="left"|  [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||27–33–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020887}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|68||L||March 15, 1997||2–5 || align="left"|  [[Vancouver Canucks]] ([[1996–97 Vancouver Canucks season|1996–97]]) ||27–34–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020900}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|69||L||March 16, 1997||1–3 || align="left"|  [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] ([[1996–97 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1996–97]]) ||27–35–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020906}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|70||L||March 19, 1997||1–3 || align="left"| @ [[Edmonton Oilers]] ([[1996–97 Edmonton Oilers season|1996–97]]) ||27–36–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020923}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|71||W||March 21, 1997||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Calgary Flames]] ([[1996–97 Calgary Flames season|1996–97]]) ||28–36–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020934}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|72||L||March 22, 1997||2–3 || align="left"| @ [[Vancouver Canucks]] ([[1996–97 Vancouver Canucks season|1996–97]]) ||28–37–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020941}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|73||W||March 25, 1997||5–0 || align="left"|  [[Ottawa Senators]] ([[1996–97 Ottawa Senators season|1996–97]]) ||29–37–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020954}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|74||L||March 27, 1997||2–5 || align="left"|  [[Hartford Whalers]] ([[1996–97 Hartford Whalers season|1996–97]]) ||29–38–7 || {{NHL recap|1996020964}}
|- align="center" 
|75||T||March 29, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Florida Panthers]] ([[1996–97 Florida Panthers season|1996–97]]) ||29–38–8 || {{NHL recap|1996020976}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#003D7C 2px solid;|title=April: 3–2–2 (home: 1–0–1; road: 2–2–1)| Game| Result| Date| Score| Opponent| Record| Recap}}
|- align="center" 
|76||T||April 1, 1997||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ [[Philadelphia Flyers]] ([[1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season|1996–97]]) ||29–38–9 || {{NHL recap|1996020988}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|77||L||April 4, 1997||0–3 || align="left"| @ [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||29–39–9 || {{NHL recap|1996021007}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|78||W||April 5, 1997||3–2 || align="left"| @ [[New York Islanders]] ([[1996–97 New York Islanders season|1996–97]]) ||30–39–9 || {{NHL recap|1996021014}}
|- align="center" 
|79||T||April 8, 1997||2–2 OT|| align="left"|  [[New Jersey Devils]] ([[1996–97 New Jersey Devils season|1996–97]]) ||30–39–10 || {{NHL recap|1996021029}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|80||W||April 10, 1997||4–3 || align="left"|  [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] ([[1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1996–97]]) ||31–39–10 || {{NHL recap|1996021043}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|81||W||April 11, 1997||4–2 || align="left"| @ [[New York Rangers]] ([[1996–97 New York Rangers season|1996–97]]) ||32–39–10 || {{NHL recap|1996021046}}
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|82||L||April 13, 1997||1–2 || align="left"| @ [[Hartford Whalers]] ([[1996–97 Hartford Whalers season|1996–97]]) ||32–40–10 || {{NHL recap|1996021061}}
|-
{{Game log section end}}
|-
| '''''Legend''''':
{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2||Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{Game log end}}

==Player statistics==

===Scoring===
* <small>''Position abbreviations: C = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Center]]; D = [[Defenceman|Defense]]; G = [[Goaltender]]; LW = [[Left Wing (ice hockey)|Left wing]]; RW = [[Right Wing (ice hockey)|Right wing]]''</small>
* <small>''{{dagger}} = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.''</small>
* <small>''{{double-dagger}} = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.''</small>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|No.|Jersey number}}
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Player
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|Pos|Position}}
!scope=colgroup colspan=6 | Regular season
|-
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|G|Goals}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|A|Assists}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|Pts|Points}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|+/-|Plus/minus}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|PIM|Penalties in minutes}}
|-
|scope="row"| 77 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Chris|Gratton}} ||C ||82 ||30 ||32 ||62 ||−28 ||201
|-
|scope="row"| 22 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Dino|Ciccarelli}} ||RW ||77 ||35 ||25 ||60 ||−11 ||116
|-
|scope="row"| 12 || align="left" | {{Sortname|John|Cullen}} ||C ||70 ||18 ||37 ||55 ||−14 ||95
|-
|scope="row"| 7 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Rob|Zamuner}} ||LW ||82 ||17 ||33 ||50 ||3 ||56
|-
|scope="row"| 44 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Roman|Hamrlik|Roman Hamrlík}} ||D ||79 ||12 ||28 ||40 ||−29 ||57
|-
|scope="row"| 11 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Shawn|Burr}} ||LW ||74 ||14 ||21 ||35 ||5 ||106
|-
|scope="row"| 29 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Alex|Selivanov}} ||RW ||69 ||15 ||18 ||33 ||−3 ||61
|-
|scope="row"| 18 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Daymond|Langkow}} ||C ||79 ||15 ||13 ||28 ||1 ||35
|-
|scope="row"| 28 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Patrick|Poulin}} ||C ||73 ||12 ||14 ||26 ||−16 ||56
|-
|scope="row"| 2 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Bill|Houlder}} ||D ||79 ||4 ||21 ||25 ||16 ||30
|-
|scope="row"| 19 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Brian|Bradley|dab=ice hockey, born 1965}} ||C ||35 ||7 ||17 ||24 ||2 ||16
|-
|scope="row"| 34 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Mikael|Andersson|dab=ice hockey, born 1966}} ||LW ||70 ||5 ||14 ||19 ||1 ||8
|-
|scope="row"| 15 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Paul|Ysebaert}} ||C ||39 ||5 ||12 ||17 ||1 ||4
|-
|scope="row"| 55 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Drew|Bannister}}{{double-dagger}} ||D ||64 ||4 ||13 ||17 ||−21 ||44
|-
|scope="row"| 24 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Jason|Wiemer}} ||C ||63 ||9 ||5 ||14 ||−13 ||134
|-
|scope="row"| 27 || align="left" | {{Sortname|David|Shaw|dab=ice hockey}} ||D ||57 ||1 ||10 ||11 ||1 ||72
|-
|scope="row"| 9 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Jeff|Toms}} ||C ||34 ||2 ||8 ||10 ||2 ||10
|-
|scope="row"| 4 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Cory|Cross}} ||D ||72 ||4 ||5 ||9 ||6 ||95
|-
|scope="row"| 5 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Igor|Ulanov}} ||D ||59 ||1 ||7 ||8 ||2 ||108
|-
|scope="row"| 20 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Rudy|Poeschek}} ||RW ||60 ||0 ||6 ||6 ||−3 ||120
|-
|scope="row"| 6 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Jeff|Norton}}{{dagger}} ||D ||13 ||0 ||5 ||5 ||0 ||16
|-
|scope="row"| 74 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Brantt|Myhres}} ||RW ||47 ||3 ||1 ||4 ||1 ||136
|-
|scope="row"| 23 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Brian|Bellows}}{{double-dagger}} ||LW ||7 ||1 ||2 ||3 ||−4 ||0
|-
|scope="row"| 92 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Aaron|Gavey}}{{double-dagger}} ||C ||16 ||1 ||2 ||3 ||−1 ||12
|-
|scope="row"| 17 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Brent|Peterson|dab=ice hockey, born 1972}} ||LW ||17 ||2 ||0 ||2 ||−4 ||4
|-
|scope="row"| 8 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Jamie|Huscroft}}{{dagger}} ||D ||13 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||−4 ||34
|-
|scope="row"| 32 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Corey|Schwab}} ||G ||31 ||0 ||1 ||1 || style="background:#ccc| ||10
|-
|scope="row"| 31 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Rick|Tabaracci}}{{dagger}} ||G ||55 ||0 ||1 ||1 || style="background:#ccc| ||12
|-
|scope="row"| 10 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Paul|Brousseau}} ||RW ||6 ||0 ||0 ||0 ||−4 ||0
|-
|scope="row"| 25 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Allan|Egeland}} ||C ||4 ||0 ||0 ||0 ||−3 ||5
|-
|scope="row"| 93 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Daren|Puppa}} ||G ||6 ||0 ||0 ||0 || style="background:#ccc| ||2
|-
|scope="row"| 26 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Jay|Wells}} ||D ||21 ||0 ||0 ||0 ||−3 ||13
|-
|scope="row"| 35 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Derek|Wilkinson|dab=ice hockey}} ||G ||5 ||0 ||0 ||0 || style="background:#ccc| ||0
|-
|scope="row"| 6 || align="left" | {{Sortname|Craig|Wolanin}}{{double-dagger}} ||D ||15 ||0 ||0 ||0 ||−9 ||8
|}

===Goaltending===
* <small>''{{dagger}} = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.''</small>
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|No.|Jersey number}}
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Player
!scope=colgroup colspan=10 | Regular season
|-
!scope="col" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|W|Wins}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|L|Losses}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|T|Ties}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}
!scope="col" | {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}}
|-
|scope="row"| 31 || align="left" | [[Rick Tabaracci]]{{dagger}} || 55 || 20 || 25 || 6 || 1415 || 138 || 2.75 || .902 || 4 || 3012
|-
|scope="row"| 32 || align="left" | [[Corey Schwab]] || 31 || 11 || 12 || 1 || 719 || 74 || 3.04 || .897 || 2 || 1462
|-
|scope="row"| 93 || align="left" | [[Daren Puppa]] || 6 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 150 || 14 || 2.59 || .907 || 0 || 325
|-
|scope="row"| 35 || align="left" | [[Derek Wilkinson (ice hockey)|Derek Wilkinson]] || 5 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 72 || 12 || 4.26 || .833 || 0 || 169
|}

==Awards and records==

===Awards===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" |Type
! scope="col" |Award/honor
! scope="col" |Recipient
! scope="col" |Ref
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=2| League<br/><small>(in-season)</small>
| [[1997 National Hockey League All-Star Game|NHL All-Star Game]] selection
| [[Dino Ciccarelli]]{{efn|Ciccarelli was voted to the starting lineup.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986) |url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 |website=NHL.com |access-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322193353/https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 |archive-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| NHL Rookie of the Month
| [[Daymond Langkow]] <small>(February)</small>
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruins Let Oates Have His Way {{!}} The Spokesman-Review |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/02/bruins-let-oates-have-his-way/ |website=www.spokesman.com |access-date=July 27, 2023 |date=March 2, 1997 |quote=Tampa Bay Lightning center Daymond Langkow was named NHL rookie of the month.}}</ref>
|}

===Milestones===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" |Milestone
! scope="col" |Player
! scope="col" |Date
! scope="col" |Ref
|-
! First game
| [[Brent Peterson (ice hockey, born 1972)|Brent Peterson]]
| November 2, 1996
|<ref>{{cite web |title=1996-97 NHL Debuts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=October 7, 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Draft picks==
Tampa Bay's draft picks at the [[1996 NHL entry draft]] held at the [[Kiel Center]] in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center"
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="4.0%" | Round
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="4.0%" | #
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="21.0%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14.5%" | Nationality
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="50.0%" | College/Junior/Club team (League)
|-
|1||16||[[Mario Larocque]]||{{CAN}}||Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
|-
|3||69||Curtis Tipler||{{CAN}}||Regina Pats (WHL)
|-
|5||125||Jason Robinson||{{CAN}}||Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
|-
|6||152||Nikolai Ignatov||{{RUS}}||CSKA Moscow (Russia)
|-
|6||157||[[Xavier Delisle]]||{{CAN}}||Granby Predateurs (QMJHL)
|-
|7||179||[[Pavel Kubina]]||{{CZE}}||HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic)
|}

==See also==
*[[1996–97 NHL season]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web |title=Tampa Bay Lightning 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000551997.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=July 22, 2023}}
*{{cite web |title=1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TBL/1997.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=July 22, 2023}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}

{{Tampa Bay Lightning}}
{{Tampa Bay Lightning seasons}}
{{1996–97 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Tampa Bay Lightning season}}
[[Category:1996–97 NHL season by team|T]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning seasons]]
[[Category:1996 in sports in Florida|Tampa Bay Lightning]]
[[Category:1997 in sports in Florida|Tampa Bay Lightning]]
[[Category:1990s in Tampa, Florida]]