TAMPA — The Lightning returned from the West Coast as one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve needed to be in order to take control of the conference’s first wild-card playoff spot.
With 11 games left in the regular season, they entered Tuesday with a six-point lead over the Capitals for the first wild-card spot. They also trailed the Maple Leafs by four points for third place in the Atlantic Division. Both Toronto and Washington played Tuesday, with the Capitals hosting the Red Wings (who sit one point back of Washington), so one of those teams will gain ground on idle Tampa Bay.
By going 4-0-1 on their five-game trip, the Lightning gave themselves better control of their fate. By Wednesday morning, the teams chasing them will no longer have games in hand.
But the schedule doesn’t get any easier, as the next week includes home games against the Bruins, Islanders and Red Wings — each with a lot to play for.
Boston is battling for an Atlantic Division title (the winner of Tuesday’s game at Florida would take a two-point lead) but went to Sunrise coming off back-to-back regulation losses for the first time in three months.
The Bruins have been a measuring stick for the Lightning, and this season some of Tampa Bay’s most inspired wins and most lackadaisical losses have come against Boston.
When they meet for the final time in the regular season Wednesday at Amalie Arena, it will be simpler: Both teams want points.
Here are four things to watch for in the matchup.
Keeping the PK going
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZDWKFIDABFDGFCWWP4QL36PPZ4.jpg "Lightning center Tyler Motte (64) skates towards the goal, while being defended by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ronnie Attard (23) during a game earlier this month in Tampa.")
Over their last nine games, the Lightning’s penalty kill is 29-for-30 for a jaw-dropping 96.7% success rate.
Tampa Bay would prefer to take fewer penalties, but the consistent play of its PK has given it a momentum boost. The Lightning are 7-1-1 during that stretch.
Meanwhile, the Bruins entered Tuesday struggling on the power play, going just 3-for-16 (18.9%) over their previous six games. In the four games it didn’t score a man-advantage goal, Boston had two goals or fewer.
The Lightning’s recent strong penalty-kill play has improved its season rank to sixth in the NHL (82.4%). With its top-ranked power-play (29.0%), Tampa Bay is one of just three teams to have both special teams units among the top six (joining Carolina and the Rangers) in the league.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3KMXMNZYE5ATTCL2AYP224QPHU.png "Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene")
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your optionsBuilding on home ice
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OZEIJSI2PNAZRCGKMMJIPAXA7E.jpg "Lightning players celebrate a goal by center Brayden Point (21) during a game against the Rangers earlier this month.")
The Lightning’s recent success on the road is encouraging, given how much they’ve struggled away from Amalie Arena dating back to last season. You have to win on the road to advance in the postseason.
Now, they have to build on some recent momentum at home. Before their most recent road trip, the Lightning won back-to-back home games over the Flyers and Rangers by a combined score of 13-3. Against Philadelphia, Tampa Bay went up 4-0 early and cruised. But against the Rangers, they trailed by two goals 17 minutes into the game before rallying to score six of the next seven.
Before those back-to-back wins, the Lightning were just 1-4-1 in their previous six games at Amalie Arena.
Get back the big guns
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BNWA5MLZVE3CHHHF3APH3FZ6QA.jpg "The Los Angeles Kings' Alex Laferriere (78) moves the puck as the Lightning's Victor Hedman (77) defends during a game Saturday in Los Angeles.")
The Lightning ended their road trip with a 3-2 overtime win in Anaheim without top defenseman Victor Hedman and top center Brayden Point, who sat out with lower-body injuries.
Both are expected to play against the Bruins, and they’ll be needed. Hedman has been playing huge minutes on all three units. He is averaging a team-high 25:05 in ice time over his last eight games, third-highest among all NHL players during that stretch.
Point has been the Lightning’s top goal-scorer. His 10 goals in eight games dating back to March 2 are tied for second-most in the league. They include a hat trick and six-point game against the Rangers in the Lightning’s last home game on March 14.
What’s more overtime?
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IE3N5KIMSVF3FFJSX56J2GKGZA.jpg "Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) celebrates scoring the winning goal in an overtime victory over the Bruins in November.")
Two of the three previous meetings between the Lightning and Bruins have gone to overtime, with Tampa Bay winning both. Boston has had 23 games end in overtime (or a shootout) and has lost 15.
Brandon Hagel’s 3-on-3 winner in a 5-4 victory on Nov. 20 snapped the Lightning’s four-game overtime losing streak to start the season. Then, after Tampa Bay blew an early two-goal lead on Feb. 13, Point netted the only goal in a 3-2 shootout victory.
If Wednesday’s game goes to overtime, it will be the Lightning’s third straight. They lost to the Kings in OT on Saturday before beating the Ducks Sunday on Anthony Cirelli’s winner in the extra session.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/eb37a45b-a545-427b-a048-a4eed8cf9584.png "Eduardo A. Encina - Lightning Reporter")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DABFYUWEGFYUNABR7I6WEWRBCU.jpg "How Brayden Point is leading Lightning attack in critical late-season run")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VEGZ2FWA4PXG6PUIYH2NKRODYI.jpg "How to ensure you don’t miss Lightning or Rays TV coverage on Saturday")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RBTB33O2LNGHBIPAUR6C7K7DCE.jpg "Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy rounding into postseason form")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BJFQ3B53EVB73DAA4TG6VQNBXI.jpg "4 observations from Lightning’s win over Bruins")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TOSOS23WSK27EYT6X2JV7335DY.jpg "4 factors going into Lightning’s game against Bruins")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZDPAT2OZQMD7UKADXFX53EZZ4A.jpg "Anthony Cirelli scores in overtime to push Lightning past Ducks")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GTG7OR5KIVOKJWK4GOWDBILQNY.jpg "Kings rebound after blowing late lead to beat Lightning in overtime")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/454CGGMX7FD23CWDPSJSTYDWYI.jpg "What can we expect from Steven Stamkos down the stretch?")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BIS555KSQZB7VKERTZ4A5UH7WU.jpg "Meet the people behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s ice, game graphics and more")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PGTPQG5VLAPTW7APTHIAUXXCCQ.jpg "Brayden Point scores twice as Lightning win 5th game in a row")