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As the NHL season winds down, the Tampa Bay Lightning will need to continue to tap into the magic they found on Tuesday night against the Metropolitan division leading Carolina Hurricanes in order to make some noise this postseason.
The Bolts were able to snap a four-game losing-streak with a 4-0 victory over the Canes.
WHAT. A. NIGHT.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 29, 2023
Lightning In a Bottle
With just seven games left in the regular season, the Bolts currently sit at third in the Atlantic division with a record 43-26-6 and 92 points.
They are five points behind the Maple Leafs, who currently hold onto the number two spot.
In their current position, they are slated to face off against their division rival Toronto in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. They need just four more points to clinch their playoff spot.
🗣 Four points to goooo!!@pepsi | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/FQdYKRMBb2
— x – Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 29, 2023
March was not particularly kind to the Bolts, as they saw 19 games in 33 days with four back-to-backs and four road trips. During this stretch, they went 7-9-3.
Despite shutting out the Canes on Tuesday, the Bolts were outscored 17-7 during their four game slide last week.
On a more positive note, the Lightning were able to make it through the season with a fairly healthy team, despite a few minor injuries.
Going Forward
Thursday night, the Bolts will face the Washington Capitals at home at 7.
To see success then and throughout the rest of the season, they will need to step up defensively and focus on limiting rebound shots. During the remaining days of the regular season, they will have more downtime than they have had over the last month, giving them time to rest up and practice before the playoffs.
The Bolts have taken home two of the last three Stanley Cups in the form of back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. If they want to bring home three-of-four, the journey starts now.
