The Tampa Bay Lightning have reacquired veteran forward Corey Perry from the Los Angeles Kings, boosting their roster as they navigate injuries and a tight Atlantic Division race. Perry has already contributed goals in his first two games back with the team. The squad recently suffered an 8-7 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in a high-scoring contest.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made a significant move at the trade deadline on March 6, 2026, by acquiring 40-year-old forward Corey Perry from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick. Perry, who previously aided the Lightning in reaching the 2021-22 Stanley Cup Final, wasted no time impacting the team, scoring a goal in each of his first two games upon return.
The Lightning's recent performance included a dramatic 8-7 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres on March 8, 2026, a matchup pivotal for first place in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay overcame an early 4-1 deficit with five consecutive goals to lead 6-4, but a late power-play goal by Buffalo sealed the win. Nikita Kucherov, JJ Moser, and Darren Raddysh each recorded three points in the game.
Despite a four-game losing streak earlier in March, the Lightning remain competitive at the top of the division, closely trailed by the surging Sabres. Roster challenges persist with injuries: rookie Dominic James is sidelined for 8-10 weeks, while defenseman Emil Lilleberg sustained a facial fracture during practice in Minnesota and is expected to miss about two weeks. To accommodate deadline moves, the team placed Curtis Douglas on waivers; he was subsequently claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.
Looking ahead to the week of March 9-16, 2026, Tampa Bay returns home for a three-game homestand at Benchmark International Arena against Eastern Conference foes. This schedule offers a chance to shore up defense, stabilize goaltending, and accumulate points before a home audience under coach Jon Cooper.
