If Tampa Bay Makes Playoffs, They Won't Be Easy
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Injuries have depleted the Tampa Bay Lightning for most of the 2016-2017. Just a couple of weeks ago, they could have decided to give up. Instead, Jon Cooper rallied his troops and they started responding to him. Tampa Bay has won their last 9 out of 12 games.
Despite trading away Ben Bishop, Brian Boyle, and Valtteri Filppula, they are currently tied for the 8th spot in the east with the NY Islanders with 77 points. They both have 13 games remaining. Tampa Bay has Toronto tomorrow and Washington on Saturday.
Nikita Kucherov has been the leader on this team with the absence of Steven Stamkos. Kucherov has 69 points this season and he has been on fire lately. Jonathan Drouin has 43 points this season. He is fourth in scoring on the Lightning.
If Stamkos can return, it would be very enormous for them. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been playing out of his mind right now ever since Bishop left. His record is 17-13-6 with a 2.53 GAA and a .919 save percentage. It seems like he has been making big save after big save for them. Vasilevskiy has the potential to steal a playoff series if the Lightning struggle to score.
This team has Stanley Cup talent. Players are just stepping up for them when needed. If they make the playoffs, they will mostly likely be an 8th seed and they won't be a cupcake for any opponent.
