Time to ride the Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning were expected to compete this year for the Eastern Conference title and perhaps a Stanley Cup. Through the middle of March, the boys from the Sunshine State have not disappointed.
Tampa Bay is sitting second in the Atlantic Division, four points behind the Montreal Canadiens with 93 points although with one less game played. The Lightning are an offensive juggernaut with a league-leading 230 goals, paced by some of the most talented forwards in hockey. Better yet, most of them are very young.
Steven Stamkos is the leader of the pack, coming into Friday’s action with 39 goals and 65 points. However, Stamkos does not lead solely the team in points, with center Tyler Johnson also at 65 points. Johnson, 24, has 25 goals and 40 assists in only his second NHL season. A native of Spokane, Wa., Johnson has proven to be one of the brightest young stars in the game, likely on his way to a 30-goal, 80-point campaign.
Then there is rookie Nikita Kucherov, a 21-year-old Russian who might have the brightest future of any player on the team. Kucherov has 26 goals and 57 points in 71 games this season, and also plays defense. Kucherov has a +34 rating and only 31 penalty minutes, two statistics which showcase great technique and speed. Ondrej Palat also deserves a mention with 15 goals and 52 points in just his second campaign.
The Lightning are anchored up front by veteran Ryan Callahan, acquired last year in the deal which sent Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers. Callahan is one of the most underrated players in the game, a do-it-all forward with grit and talent. Callahan (21 G, 27 A) is a true glue guy for Tampa Bay and someone to lead this young team into a deep playoff run with expectations running high.
On defense it is Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman and Jason Garrison playing quality minutes with Ben Bishop mopping up any mess between the pipes. Bishop, thought of in backup terms most of his career, has flourished with the Lightning. This year, Bishop is 34-11-34 in 53 games with a 2.32Â goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
Even with all this talent, Tampa Bay is still under the radar nationally. Bovada has the Lightning tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues at 12/1 to win the Stanley Cup, tied for the eighth-best odds in the league.
Done for the season
The Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers are each officially eliminated from playoff contention. It serves both Buffalo and Edmonton right for bailing on their face bases over the last few years, completely satisfied with being a mess to acquire better picks. Edmonton has enjoyed three first-overall picks consecutively this decade, and still stink. Let’s hope Buffalo turns it around in short order, unlike the Oilers.
