New Lightning forward Anthony Duclair ready to join playoff chase

TAMPA — Anthony Duclair knows what it’s like to battle for your playoff life, so he understands the situation he’s entering as he joins the Lightning dressing room.

Tampa Bay is clinging to the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, entering Saturday just two points ahead of a surging Islanders team that had played two fewer games. It hopes the trade-deadline additions of forward Duclair and defenseman Matt Dumba can provide a late-season boost.

Duclair, 28, was in a similar position last season while playing for the Panthers. An Achilles injury cost him most of that regular season, but he rejoined the team in late February. Florida was on the outside of the postseason picture looking in but rallied to edge out the Penguins for the final playoff spot in the East.

When general manager Julien BriseBois welcomed Duclair to the Lightning Thursday night, he told him the playoffs already had started for the team. It knows it will have to pile up points just to make the postseason.

But then, the Panthers showed last season that anything is possible if you can just make the field. They rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins in the first round, then advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final before falling to the Golden Knights.

Duclair was a valuable player for Florida down the stretch, including a playoff run that saw him record four goals and 11 points in 20 games. Included was a two-assist effort in a second-round-opening win at Carolina, a game that went four overtimes. He skated 57 shifts and logged 35:51 of ice time.

“It was a great experience last year, just going to the finals,” Duclair said. “It takes a lot. It takes a full team, all four lines, all defensemen. And we all know how it could be a big risk of injury and it’s always the next man up, so everyone’s got to be dialed in.

“It’s a fun process, too. You’re in there with your brothers, you know. They become your family in a short period of time. And I’m just looking forward to doing that here again.”

The Lightning acquired Duclair from San Jose, where he was traded in the offseason for the final season of his three-year deal. He had 16 goals and 27 points in 56 games with the Sharks, including five goals and three assists over his last four games. But the Sharks lost all four of those games and entered Saturday tied with the Blackhawks for the fewest points in the league.

“I’ve just got to be myself and go from there,” Duclair said. “They know me as a player, they obviously did their homework on me as a person. So for myself, nothing’s changing. I just want to come here, be my joyful self and get in the locker room and get to know all the guys and obviously create some chemistry on the ice as fast as possible. That’s probably the main key here.”

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Duclair and Dumba, acquired Friday from the Coyotes, were expected to make their Lightning debuts Saturday night against the Flyers at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay could use a spark following Thursday’s 6-3 loss to Calgary, which coach Jon Cooper called the worst of the season. Typically dominant at home, the Lightning are just 1-4-1 in their last six games at Amalie.

Cooper called Duclair a “dynamic player” with top-six skill and speed who can provide the Lightning with much-needed complementary scoring.

“He’s one of those guys, I always say, he can do things that pull fans out of their seats, and that’s what we’re looking for from him,” Cooper said. There’s other parts of the game he’s going to have to look after, but to add another piece that can put the puck in the net, that is going to help us.”

The Lightning know Duclair well from his three seasons with the Panthers. The teams have had many spirited battles, and nine of Duclair’s 34 career playoff games have come against Tampa Bay.

Duclair is well-acquainted with several Lightning players, too.

He roomed with Brayden Point during the world juniors in 2015 on a Team Canada team that also included Nick Paul. He played with Paul in Ottawa and briefly with backup goaltender Jonas Johansson in Florida. Duclair also is good friends with Dumba and said he can’t wait to play with him for the first time.

Tanner Jeannot was the first player to text Duclair, and messages from Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Calvin de Haan followed as they were quick to welcome him to his new team.

“You can just tell that it’s a family environment in here and everybody cares for each other,” Duclair said. “So it’s great. I’m very excited to come here.

“This is a winning organization, and obviously with all the battles we had the past three years playing for the Panthers, just a real real honor to be part of this locker room and move things forward.”

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