Five Reasons Why The Tampa Bay Lightning Are Serious Stanley Cup Contenders

Following a 2-0 setback at Detroit on the evening of January 25, the Tampa Bay Lightning sported a 26-19-3 mark that was good for 55 points and a rather ho-hum .541 points percentage. Two days later, general manager Julien BriseBois began his mid-season media session by pointing out how strong the Bolts, victorious in only six of their previous 15 games, were in many key categories.

BriseBois noted that after 48 games Tampa Bay was No. 1 in goals scored, No. 3 in goal differential, No. 4 on the powerplay and top 10 in other areas.

“You don’t have these strong underlying numbers, especially the goal differential, unless you are a very good hockey team made up of very good hockey players that are very well coached,” he said.

In other words, everything would fall into place if the Lightning kept playing as they had. Though they noticeably outplayed the visiting Blackhawks the following evening only to lose, 4-1, the club went 21-7-5 over the final 33 games for a .712 points percentage. That included a 2-2-1 mark after clinching a playoff spot.

“There are 32 teams and only 16 left,” said coach Jon Cooper, whose team piled up 104 points and earned home ice advantage in the first round of the postseason, with which the curtain rises for the Bolts on Tuesday evening against the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. “We are one of the 16. I think every year we get looked at as ‘their time is over,’ and every year we come back and prove we can do it. It has been amazing to be a part of for over a decade. Hopefully, the group makes many more memories and I am excited to see what we can do in the playoffs.”

Here are five reasons why Cooper, 12 years behind the Bolts bench, and his team can make more memories at Amalie Arena this spring.

Nikita Kucherov

To see is to believe, though the eyes often deceive. Truly a magician with the puck, the Art Ross winner as the NHL’s leading scorer (121 points) for a third time made a great case for his second Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP. Alas, it goes beyond the impressive numbers for Kucherov.

In the second period against visiting Pittsburgh on March 25, ‘Kuch’ was shoved slightly from behind by the Penguins Ryan Graves and sandwiched between the defenseman and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic. Kucherov’s face hit Nedeljkovic’s mask resulting in three chipped teeth and a trip down the tunnel to get checked out.

Graves was called for interference and with time ticking away on the man advantage, Kucherov emerged from the tunnel, hopped onto the ice and put the puck behind Nedeljkovic with eight seconds remaining on the power play. It was Kucherov’s third of three points in a 6-1 win.

“That’s one thing about Kuch,” said Brandon Hagel. “He is a 100-point guy, but he wants to be out there and battle with the guys no matter (what). I mean, losing teeth, that isn’t fun. I can attest to that. But that’s just what ‘Kuch’ does and that’s why he’s loved by his teammates and considered a gamer.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy

An elite goalie, let alone one that has often been considered the world’s best during his decade in the league, gives a team more than a fighting chance to win it all. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy was fourth in both goals against (career best 2.18) and save percentage (.921) – figures that were second among goalies who played at least half his team’s games – and his six shutouts were second. In other words, much Vezina Trophy consideration should come his way. (Although, Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck did a clean sweep to league leadership in every major category.)

Cooper was good about giving Vasilevskiy, who has one Vezina (2018-19), one Conn Smythe (2021) and a pair of Cup rings to his credit, sufficient rest as Jonas Johansson made 18 starts. There is no reason to think ‘Vasy’ will not perform at a very high level this playoff year following a regular season in which the timing of many of his highlight-reel saves gave his teammates a lift when it was needed most.

“He’s bailing us out at the right time, always,” said defenseman Erik Cernak. “I think this season he has been unreal.”

Indeed, the ‘Big Cat,’ who sustained a back injury during training camp ahead of the 2023-24 season that sidelined him for two months, does everything he can to make himself and his teammates better.

“Vasy is one of the best to ever do it,” said Victor Hedman, who had the ‘C’ sewn on his sweater after Steven Stamkos departed. “The way he prepares and the way he plays the game and practices, it is not a fluke. Such a great guy, and a great goaltender who comes up with big saves at the right moments.”

Special Teams

The power play clicked at 25.9 percent to place fifth. Jake Guentzel’s 17 powerplay goals led the league and Brayden Point tied for second (Leon Draisaitl) with 16. The penalty kill checked in at 81.5 percent to rank seventh. The PK also recorded 11 shorthanded goals to rank third with Anthony Cirelli (4) and Hagel (3) combining for seven.

Cooper credited assistant coach Jeff Blashill for having a “real good plan” with killing penalties and how new personnel adapted to that plan.

“The chemistry grew as the season went on,” he said. “You bring new guys in and new PK systems, so it takes a little bit of time. I think we have a good feel for each other and the system.”

Hagel, whose 35 goals broke Doug Smail’s league mark for most goals in a season without scoring one on the powerplay, and Cirelli certainly have a good feel for each other. They have been thrilling to watch when shorthanded, though not at the expense of what matters most.

“With (Hagel’s) speed, if we have a chance to go and create an opportunity for a goal or something, we’re gonna go,” said Cirelli. “But in saying that, first and foremost is to kill the penalty and make sure we’re not giving anything up. And then, the ‘D’ back there with (McDonagh) and (Cernak), they’re so smart that maybe they’re looking for it sometimes and try and give us a chance (to break out).”

Commitment to Defense

McDonagh was a pillar on the blue line and in the clubhouse during a four-season stretch with the Lightning that included a pair of Cups and three straight trips to the Cup final. For No. 27, accountability was, is and always will be of the utmost.

“It’s doing the little things like blocking shots, taking hits to make plays and finishing our chances,” said the 35-year-old, who was reacquired by BriseBois in a trade with Nashville before posting a league-best plus-43 while also being the Lightning’s Masterton nominee. “It is a great recipe for us and we are capable of some special things when we are committed. That is something we have talked about and preached about. It takes hard work and dedication. We are a group that is committed to one another and will do whatever it takes no matter what the score is.”

Five-on-five was, frankly, unsightly at times last season. Not so in 2024-25 when the commitment McDonagh spoke of rose to the surface immediately.

“We went from a mediocre defensive team to one of the best in the league,” said Cooper, whose squad has benefitted from the trade deadline reacquisition of Yanni Gourde, who also won two Cups during his initial tenure with the Bolts. “I can check a whole bunch of boxes that are pretty impressive with what this team has accomplished. We have put ourselves in a position to vie for the Stanley Cup.”

Maintaining the Lead

The NHL is a difficult league with which to climb out of a third-period hole, even it is a single goal. That being noted, the Lightning were an eye-opening 38-1-2 when leading after 40 minutes. It can be a delicate balance when it comes to protecting a lead and revving up the afterburners when, say, an odd-man break might present itself.

“Protecting the lead is one thing, but to play to our strengths and not sit back is what has made us successful,” said Hedman. “We found that fine line of pushing the play and when to sit back and protect the middle. Guys have done a good job of buying into that. You feel comfortable playing in those situations, and that’s when you know you have four other guys around you that think the same way.”

Of course, a team has to get the lead in order to protect it. With a goal differential of plus-75 that was tops in the Eastern Conference and second to Winnipeg in the NHL, the Lightning had their share of leads. In fact, they led 36 times after one period and were an impressive 28-5-3 in such games. It is yet another example of the fine all-around season they had and why they should be taken very seriously when it comes to winning it all for a third time this decade.