It’s been almost a year since the Tampa Bay Lightning began their journey to the 2015 Stanley Cup final. The roster remained largely intact and expectations were high heading into another regular season. The team was stacked and seemed poised to make another trip deep into the postseason. As the 2015-16 season wears down, it seems that things weren’t quite that simple. Hockey has a way of surprising you. After months of inconsistencies, injuries and drama, the Lightning find themselves on the doorstep of the playoffs once again. There are still substantial challenges ahead of this team but they are more prepared to meet them than they were twelve months ago.
The NHL regular season is a grind. It’s a clichéd phrase but it’s true. This has been especially true for the Lightning this year. They’re not playing badly. In fact their current record of 44-27-5 isn’t that far off last year’s 45-21-7 run. Last year they ended with 108 points. They have currently earned 93. 100 points and a possible division title aren’t out of reach if they continue this way for their remaining games. Despite being in a pretty good position heading into the playoffs there has almost been a funk around the squad. The struggle was most definitely real for the Bolts but in the end it has made them better.
It may be hard for fans to believe that especially in wake of injuries to key players like Nikita Kucherov and Anton Stralman. Until you remember that the Bolts have been dealing with injuries to guys like Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman for extended periods of time. If last year’s Lightning employed a shock and awe approach powered by an insane offense, this year Tampa Bay has been more grizzled and gritty. It hasn’t been as pretty and has been much more focused on winning the defensive side of the game. That’s exactly how games are won in the playoffs. One of Tampa Bay’s biggest assets is their goaltending. Ben Bishop is an absolute rock in net and is more than capable of stealing games for the team. Focusing on defense and solid goaltending? That’s how championships are won.
There are way too many variables in the playoffs to say with certainty that a team is going to win the Stanley Cup. That being said the Lightning are better equipped to handle what’s coming thanks to their deep run last summer and a challenging season under their belts. They’re no longer “young, dumb, and don’t know any better”. They’re a little older, a lot wiser and know exactly what they need to do. That knowledge should prove invaluable.
(Feature Photo/Getty Images)
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