With interest in Hockey picking up in the United States the NHL decides to add a team in one of the most unlikely place, Tampa, FL. Led by NHL legend Phil Esposito the city of Tampa had been lobbying actively for an NHL team hosting an exhibition game at the Suncoast Dome in 1990 that drew a record crowd of 25,581 to see Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins take on Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings.

The Lightning would begin play with a people with a solid pedigree running the team as Phil Esposito was named club president and Terry Crisp who only a few years earlier led the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup was named coach. During the preseason the Lightning would get wide attention as goalie Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an exhibition game as she stopped seven of nine shots in one period during a September 23rd exhibition game against the St.

Louis Blues. What started out, as publicity stunt would become extended as Rheaume was signed to play for the Lightning's top minor league club in Atlanta.

However, she would never be called up to play in a regular season game. Playing at the Expo Hall at the old Florida State Fairgrounds the Lightning would get off to a rousing start in the regular season, beating the defending Campbell Conference Champion Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 led by Chris Kontos, who netted 4 goals.

The Lightning would come back to earth a bit finishing last in the Norris Division with a 23-54-7 record, which was considerably better than their expansion partners the Ottawa Senators.