The 2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 24th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991. The Lightning will enter the season as the defending Eastern Conference champions. The regular season began on October 8, 2015 against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3–2 victory, with Jason Garrison scoring the first 3-on-3 overtime goal in NHL history.