<P> After being awarded the franchise, Phil Esposito installed himself as president and general manager, while Tony became chief scout . Terry Crisp, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers when they won two Stanley Cups in the mid-1970s and coached the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup in 1989, was tapped as the first head coach . Phil Esposito would also hire former teammates from the Boston Bruins of the 1970s; he hired former linemate Wayne Cashman as an assistant coach, former Bruin trainer John "Frosty" Forristal as the team's trainer and the inaugural team photo has him flanked by Cashman and player Ken Hodge, Jr., son of his other Bruins' linemate . </P> <P> The team turned heads in the pre-season when Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game, which also made her the first woman to play in any of the major professional North American sports leagues; she played for the Lightning against the St. Louis Blues, and stopped seven of nine shots . </P> <P> The Lightning's first regular season game took place on October 7, 1992, playing in Tampa's tiny 11,000 - seat Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds . They shocked the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 7--3 with four goals by little - known Chris Kontos . The Lightning shot to the top of the Campbell Conference's Norris Division within a month, behind Kontos' initial torrid scoring pace and a breakout season by forward Brian Bradley . However, they buckled under the strain of some of the longest road trips in the NHL--their nearest division rival, the Blues, were over 1,000 miles away--and finished in last place with a record of 23--54--7 for 53 points . This was, at the time, one of the best - ever showings by an NHL expansion team . Bradley's 42 goals gave Tampa Bay fans optimism for the next season; it would be a team record until the 2006--07 season . </P> <P> The following season saw the Lightning shift to the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division, as well as move into the Florida Suncoast Dome (a building originally designed for baseball) in St. Petersburg, which was reconfigured for hockey and renamed "the ThunderDome ." The team acquired goaltender Daren Puppa, left - wing goal scorer Petr Klima and Denis Savard . While Puppa's play resulted in a significant improvement in goals allowed (from 332 to 251), Savard was long past his prime and Klima's scoring was offset by his defensive lapses . The Lightning finished last in the Atlantic Division in 1993--94 with a record of 30--43--11 for 71 points . Another disappointing season followed in the lockout - shortened 1995 season with a record of 17--28--3 for 37 points . </P>

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