41 games are done for the Lightning this season, 41 remain on the books to be competed in, and the overall weight to games is on display with last night’s victory in Edmonton. Not the in-game drama of come-from-behind victory but the parity that’s playing out in the NHL standings this season, where everyone seems thisclose to contention status with very few exceptions.
After last night, the Lightning is a single point out of a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, trailing the New Jersey Devils who’ve a game in-hand and who have dropped three straight. Tampa Bay is also 2 points behind the Boston Bruins for 4th in the Atlantic Division.
This is looking at what is in front of the Lightning standings-wise, what’s behind them isn’t quite behind anything: The Ottawa Senators are tied in points (44) but have fewer wins (19-16-6). The Pittsburgh Penguins are only a point behind both clubs but with a game in-hand (19-16-5). The Bolts have two more games to play against Ottawa this season (both in Ottawa) while they also will start their three-game season series with Pittsburgh upon return to Amalie Arena on January 15th. Tampa Bay begins its season series with the New Jersey Devils in late February and concludes it in the final weeks of the season in April. The final two games against the Boston Bruins this season will be played in February and March.
By the way, the Florida Panthers lead the Lightning by 10 points as it stands at the moment, with two games slated to be played between the clubs this month as well as a final contest on March 28th at Amalie Arena.
