TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – The Tampa Bay Lightning proving their deep playoff run of a year ago wasn’t happenstance.
With Ben Bishop, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman leading the way, the Lightning are back in the Eastern Conference final again after defeating the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders in the first two rounds.
And, they’ve done it by dispatching of each opponent in five games while playing without injured star Steven Stamkos and defenseman Anton Stralman.
One of the team’s ambitions is to extend the season long enough for Stamkos (surgery for a blood clot near his right collarbone) and Stralman (broken left leg) to be able to play again.
“I’m not surprised. Did I ever think that we’d get to the third round in 10 games, not a chance especially against the two opponents we played,” coach Jon Cooper said after Sunday’s 4-0 victory over the Islanders closed out the second-round series.