Bolts look great — and might get even better
Tampa Bay on verge of finishing off Isles, hoping to get Stamkos and Stralman back for rest of playoffs
TAMPA, FLA. — The opportunity that awaits Sunday afternoon is not lost on the Tampa Bay Lightning and the aspirations stretch well beyond the obvious.
Yes, a win over the New York Islanders would push the Bolts’ playoff record to 8-2 and swat aside another Eastern Conference opponent in five games.
Yes, it would take the reigning conference champs to the NHL’s final four for a second consecutive spring. And with each game they play, we’re seeing the benefits of last year’s extended run.
And yes, the down time accompanying a short series win would serve the Lightning well, especially if the Washington Capitals find a way to extend the other conference semifinal against Pittsburgh and that punishing war continues.
But as forward Alex Killorn let slip following Friday’s 2-1 overtime win up north in Brooklyn — former Canucks blueliner Jason Garrison had the game-winner in overtime — there is an even bigger excitement brewing with this team. Namely, the deeper the playoffs go, the chances increase that one or both of injured defenceman Anton Stralman or captain Steven Stamkos return to the Tampa lineup.
“It’s really exciting just to know there’s a potential for (Stamkos and Stralman) to come back,” Killorn said. “Also, when you see what we are doing without them and realize they could be back with us next series or at the end of this series … it’s exciting.”
Both players travelled with the team to Brooklyn, though they kept a low profile. When the rest of the Lightning practised on Thursday, Stamkos and Stralman had off-ice workouts and treatment. When most of the team took Friday’s game-day skate off, the pair were on the ice.
Coach Jon Cooper’s stance has basically been “they’ll be ready, when they are ready.” There’s no need to say much more, of course. It’s always better to keep potential distraction to a minimum.
Judging by the feeling around this team, however, expectations are starting to heighten. And Cooper knows what one or both would bring, especially to a team getting contributions from up and down the lineup.
First things first: The Lightning need to take care of the Islanders and that might not come easily. At worst, New York probably should have earned a split in Games 3 and 4 in Brooklyn, but an inability to score timely goals has conspired against them. No one expects them to lay down in Game 5.
The Bolts, meanwhile, have been supreme opportunists, looking every bit the team that went to the Stanley Cup final last year while their opponent seems to wear the weight of a team that has won just one playoff series since 1993.
With the quickest turnaround in this drawn out series coming between Games 4 and 5 and Sunday’s 3 p.m. (noon PDT) puck drop at Amalie Arena, the heat is on the Isles, who had an optional practice here Saturday afternoon. The Lightning, meanwhile, had a leisurely travel day back from New York and plan to be rested and ready to finish things off in front of their home crowd.
A year ago, almost everything was new to the Lightning as they advanced through Detroit, Montreal and the New York Rangers.
And then there was the health issues. By Game 2 of the Cup final in Chicago, Tyler Johnson could barely hold his stick because of a broken wrist.
Goaltender Ben Bishop was in and out as starting goalie with a mystery ailment. Now the goalie who has been named to the U.S. team for the World Cup of Hockey is in superb form.
And then there was Stamkos. The Tampa captain was for the most part healthy, but the pressure was mounting as he struggled to score in the final. If he returns to these playoffs, he’ll be fresh and with minimal expectations, at least initially, especially given others in the Lightning lineup who have stepped up.