After a slow start coming off a Stanley Cup Final loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Tampa Bay Lightning are finally playing their best hockey in the playoffs.
Even without superstar captain Steven Stamkos (recovering from surgery to remove a blood clot), top defenseman Anton Stralman (broken leg) and winger J.T. Brown (upper-body injury), the Bolts whisked their way to the Eastern Conference final in 10 games, defeating the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders in five games each.
While even they might not have expected the wins to come so rapidly, here are five reasons why Tampa Bay is back in the conference final:
Goaltender Ben Bishop has never been better: NHL netminders often start to play their best hockey around age 28. At 29, Bishop is as good as any of his contemporaries. He proved it last year as Tampa Bay’s playoff hero in the run to the Final, and he was even better in this Vezina-Trophy nominated campaign. In the regular season, he went 35-21-4 with a .926 save percentage and 2.06 goal-against average (both career highs). Bishop has improved on that in the playoffs (.938 save percentage, 1.89 goal-against average). His penchant for making spectacular saves when the Lightning need a boost has been critical to their success.
A smothering defense: Defenseman Victor Hedman made a case last year for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He has been even more exceptional in these first 10 playoff games, tallying four goals, five assists and a +4 rating. Hedman shut down Islanders star John Tavares in the second round. With Matt Carle back in the lineup and Jason Garrison and Andrej Sustr clicking, this group is at the top of its game, even without Stralman.
“Next man up” mentality: Playing without your best forward isn’t ideal, and losing Stamkos created plenty of doubt about the Lightning’s chances. But Tampa used it as a chance to rise up. Center Valtteri Filppula has been crucial in the faceoff circle, winning more than 50% of his draws. Embattled forward Jonathan Drouin has found a new level in the postseason (one goal, eight assists). Garrison played hero with the overtime winner in Game 4 against the Islanders. All over the ice, the Lightning are getting contributions.
Tampa’s best players have been its best players: The Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers all lost in the first round because their stars didn’t play like stars. But the Lightning’s offensive powers have stood out. Nikita Kucherov led all postseason players with nine goals. He and Tyler Johnson (13 points) are tied for the playoff lead in plus-minus (+11). Alex Killorn has two game-winning goals. Tampa hasn’t had to wonder who was going to step up; the right guys have been doing the right things all along.
Right man behind the bench: The Lightning believe in one another. That starts with head coach Jon Cooper, a pillar of poise and calm no matter the situation. When they were being routed in Game 1 by the Islanders and Bishop was pulled after giving up four goals on 13 shots, it would have been easy for Cooper to over-correct and try to shake up the system. But no matter what’s happened to the Lightning all season — sluggish start, the drama over Drouin’s trade request, Stamkos’ pending free agency — Cooper has kept his club even-keeled and focused on what matters most. The Lightning have bought in to what their coach is selling, and it’s paying huge dividends.
