It seems like the hockey pundits are starting to believe in the Lightning, as they continue to climb up various power rankings lists with less than two weeks left in the season.
Dating to Feb. 4, when the Lightning opened the day outside the final playoff spot, Tampa Bay has been the second-best team in hockey with 35 points going into Saturday’s games. Only the Blues, who have won 11 straight games, have more points over that stretch.
And yes, the Lightning have shown their ability to consistently master the things needed to win in the postseason. But they’re still far from a perfect team. Here are some interesting numbers heading in to weekend play:
22
Years since an NHL team had five 30-goal scorers. Four players already have reached the mark: Brayden Point (38), Jake Guentzel (38), Brandon Hagel (34) and Nikita Kucherov (33). Anthony Cirelli is four goals from being the fifth. Having that volume of 30-goal scorers is unprecedented in today’s game. The last time it happened was 1992-93, when the Red Wings and Penguins both fielded five 30-goal scorers.
Plus-71
Lightning’s team goal differential. They surpassed the Capitals (plus-69) for the best goal differential in the Eastern Conference. They only trail Winnipeg (plus-84). The Lightning have won some lopsided games this season, but all in all, such a large goal differential definitely suggests responsible play on both sides of the puck
1-17-3
Lightning’s record when scoring two goals or fewer. There is a caveat here: late empty-net goals impacted this record. Still, for all the notion that the Lightning have been really good at winning those 1-0, 2-1 games, the numbers don’t show it. One example was Thursday’s loss in Ottawa, where they had more than enough scoring chances to win, but fell 2-1.
17th
Lightning’s rank in road points. Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to sustain success on the road, and its sub-.500 record away from Amalie Arena shows that (17-18-3). Interestingly enough, the Lightning have scored 125 goals on the road, fifth-most in the league, so offense seemingly hasn’t been the issue.
4-9-0
Lightning’s record against potential playoff foes from the Atlantic. An 0-3-0 mark against the Leafs is deceiving because those games were early in the season when the Lightning were still finding their game. But Tampa Bay is also 1-2-0 against Florida and Montreal. The Lightning get one more chance against Toronto (on Wednesday) and Florida (April 15) at home, matchups that should be better measuring sticks against the other top teams in the Atlantic. From the way things stand now, the Lightning likely will face one of those teams in the first round and could see the other in the second.
Prospect tries out new position
Lightning prospect Maxim Groshev returned to the ice this week from a suspension for using racially insensitive language toward an opponent.
On the ice, Groshev has been an athletic forward who can dazzle. He passes the eye test, as he’s a powerful skater with a knack toward the net. But he’s been mostly inconsistent, and his numbers this season (five goals, six assists) leave you searching for more.
The Lightning have said in the past that a language barrier has been an obstacle for Groshev. Theformer third-round pick came to the AHL from Russia at age 20 not knowing any English, but this is his second full pro season in North America.
One requirement of Groshev’s discipline was that he work with the NHL’s player coalition for education and training on racism and inclusion. Groshev served all 10 games of his suspension and returned March 30.
“Along with the league and their support, you work through it,” said Lightning assistant GM and AHL Syracuse GM Stacy Roest. “… He was very thorough and he understands.”
While he served his suspension, he was still practicing at AHL Syracuse, and coach Joel Bouchard moved him to defenseman following a rash of injuries to D-men like Declan Carlile and Scott Walford. Groshev has played his first three games back as a defenseman on the left side.
Whether the position chance sticks, it was clear in Friday’s game against Toronto that he embraced the physicality of playing defenseman. He can still get up the ice quickly, and his speed might be even more evident in a 200-foot game.
“He’s looking great,” Roest said. “You see the skating and the speed. Even when there’s a race for the puck, whether it’s going forward or backward, he gets there. He’s open to trying a new position, and he’s helping out with. It looks good. He’s bought into it and he’s happy and we’re happy with him.”
Asked whether Groshev might stay at D when the other players come back, Roest said “we’ll see.”
“The coaching staff, they’re happy with it,” Roest said. “It’s an opportunity. He’s bought into it. We’re very happy with how he’s progressing.”
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