Jon Cooper ‘Proud’ Of How Tampa Bay Lightning Fought Through 82 Games
This season was particularly challenging for the Lightning, who had no less than 339 man-games lost to injury and still produced the franchise’s fifth 50-win campaign.
VANCOUVER, B. C. - Jon Cooper, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning gestures while on the bench during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 19, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada.
(Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) Getty Images Jon Cooper has noted on multiple occasions that in order to hoist Lord Stanley’s chalice at the end of a long autumn, winter and spring, a team has to qualify to begin with. His Tampa Bay Lightning have made it to the sunny side of the velvet nine straight years. This season’s 82-game schedule was particularly challenging to Cooper and his staff.
The Bolts had no less than 339 man-games lost to injury and found a way to turn in the franchise’s fifth 50-win campaign (50-26-6) while recording 106 points in an Atlantic Division that was won by Buffalo. The many speedbumps the Lightning navigated during the journey has them preparing for a first-round matchup with the Montreal Canadiens, who are coached by former Tampa Bay star Martin St. Louis.
Because of the many challenges the Bolts faced, the NHL Broadcasters’ Association is likely to give Cooper strong consideration with respect to the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. “Fifty wins, to me that’s a big number,” said Cooper, who hopes to complete his 13 th season behind the Tampa Bay bench much later than sooner this spring, following Wednesday evening’s regular season finale against the Rangers. “For them to pull through and get that, especially in the division and conference we’re in -- I don’t know if I’ve seen a conference as competitive as this was from top to bottom – I am proud of them.
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