For 55 minutes against the Washington Capitals on Sunday the Tampa Bay Lightning played as well as they have all season long. The won the 5v5 battle, the power play battle, and the penalty kill battle. Sure, things slid off the rails a little at the end when they allowed needless goals to Lars Eller and Garnet Hathaway, but overall it was one of the strongest games they’ve played over the first month and a half. Now, they just have to do it again. And again. And again. Consistency has not been consistent for a team that prides themselves on that being one of their best attributes. With 15 games under their belt the time for excuses seems to have run out and it’s time for them to be held accountable. Prior to the game on Sunday, Coach Cooper mentioned that some players in the room may not be all that happy with him so it’s likely that the relaxed, easy going coach may have turned up the intensity a bit.