Where the Tampa Bay Lightning stand through 27 games

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December, 6, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – What to make of the Tampa Bay Lightning through 27 games – contender or pretender?

Just past the one-quarter mark of the season, Tampa Bay has 30 points, one point behind the Boston Bruins for the third spot in the Atlantic Division as of games of Dec. 5 but just two points behind Ottawa for second.

The pace through 27 games (14-11-2) this season is one ahead of last season through the same mark when they were 13-11-3. Last season Tampa Bay played 15 road games with a 7-6-2 road record through the opening 27 games while this year they have played 16 away from Amalie Arena with a 7-8-1 record.

A lot of similarities in those records and how the schedule has played out to this point, though it’s more compacted this season due to the World Cup of Hockey before the season started as well as the upcoming “bye’’ week that each team will have in the second half of the season.

And the fact that Tampa Bay had the most players participate in the World Cup of Hockey – something that probably helped them at the beginning of the season – meant high-level games even before the season started.

So what are we to make of this team right now, a team that will be without captain Steven Stamkos until at least March due surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee?

Are they the inconsistent team on display the past couple of weeks? Or are they still a team just trying to make their way through the early stages of the season with their head above water, as they did last season?

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There are a lot of noticeable similarities between the start this year compared to last year when it comes to the record.

But here are some of my observations about the differences and what to expect moving forward.

One big improvement comes on the power play where Tampa Bay has dangerous for a good portion of the early part of the season. With 22 power play goals, the Lightning are second in the league behind Philadelphia while ranking tied for third overall with 22.9 percent success rate.

Last year Tampa Bay had 15 power play goals at the same point in the season.

That is one area to be encouraged with, though the loss of Stamkos will be felt even though Tampa Bay is 6-for-29 (20.7 percent) in the 10 games since he was lost to injury. The influence of new assistant coach Todd Richards has been felt and it will be a challenge to keep the power play a consistent threat.

That’s because the Lightning have not good enough at 5-on-5 play, which has been a staple of their success over the past few seasons. Though Tampa Bay is among the league leaders with 48 goals at even strength, the 48 goals allowed at 5-on-5 play are tied for the seventh most through games of Dec. 5.

And a team that finished fifth overall in goals against last season has yet to see the high quality, consistent goaltending generally provided by Ben Bishop, who is 8-9-1 with a 2.74 goals against average and .910 save percentage, numbers well below the standard he has set the past two seasons and aided by his past two starts in which he allowed just two goals.

Tampa Bay also ranks 16th overall in goals against average at 2.63.

That has brought out the typical slew of comments from the “Chicken Little’’ crowd who think the sky is falling and want to bring about wholesale changes to the roster. There have even been some suggestions of a change in coaching because of the perceived slow start.

Certainly some of the reasons for the start this year have a different feel than last year.

But here are some things to consider before looking skyward to see what, if anything, is actually falling.

It’s too early in the season to have such a reaction for a team that is right in the middle of the playoff picture at the start of December.
<>br/> I understand, a lot of fans want to see their team win every game and they want it done with flair and pizzazz.

I get it, there is passion about the team, but sometimes that sort of passion leads to emotional reactions.

Keeping things in perspective is always required, however.

Just like last year, the whole key is to make the playoffs. To make the playoffs, the key to avoid prolonged losing streaks. Tampa Bay did that last year, and even though they were outside the playoff picture in late December – along with fellow Eastern Conference final opponent Pittsburgh – put together a strong push in the second half and finished second in the Atlantic Division.

This is still an exceptionally talented team. Don’t lose that perspective. The coaching staff is still talented, don’t lose sight of that, either.

Under Jon Cooper, this team has found its way through a myriad of situations that would seemingly derail their season.

Yet through it all, the team has persevered and enjoyed success.

Is there any reason to doubt them as contenders now?

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