The 1995–96 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the Lightning fourth season of operation in the National Hockey League. The Lightning finished with a record of 38-32-12 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
It would also be the Lightning's third and final season in the ThunderDome before moving into their next and current home, the Ice Palace.
Regular season
The Lightning tied the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators for fewest short-handed goals scored (6).
Final standings
Playoffs
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) Tampa Bay Lightning
The series opened up in Philadelphia. The Flyers won Game 1 7–3, but the Lightning rebounded in Game 2 by a 2–1 overtime win. Games 3 and 4 were in Tampa Bay. The Lightning won again in overtime in Game 3, but this time, by a score of 5–4. However, the series was tied up at 2-2 thanks to Philadelphia's 4–1 win in Game 4. The series shifted back to Philadelphia, where the Flyers won 4-1 again in Game 5. In Game 6, Philadelphia won 6-1 and won the series 4–2.
Schedule and results
Regular season
|- align="center" |1||T||October 7, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 12, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||1–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |3||L||October 14, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||1–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |4||L||October 15, 1995||4–7 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||1–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |5||L||October 17, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||1–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 19, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||2–3–1 || |- align="center" |7||T||October 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||2–3–2 || |- align="center" |8||T||October 26, 1995||4–4 OT|| align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||2–3–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |9||L||October 28, 1995||2–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||2–4–3 || |- align="center" |10||T||October 31, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||2–4–4 || |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |11||L||November 1, 1995||0–10 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||2–5–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||November 3, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||3–5–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |13||L||November 5, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||3–6–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |14||L||November 8, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||3–7–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |15||L||November 10, 1995||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||3–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |16||L||November 12, 1995||4–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||3–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||November 14, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||4–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |18||L||November 16, 1995||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||4–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |19||W||November 18, 1995||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||5–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |20||W||November 22, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||6–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 24, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||7–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |22||W||November 25, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||8–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |23||W||November 27, 1995||2–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||9–10–4 || |- align="center" |24||T||November 29, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||9–10–5 || |-