Are the Lightning the team to avoid in the NHL playoffs?

The action is heating up on the ice as teams battle to make the NHL playoffs and a chance at taking home the Stanley Cup Trophy.

There’s just over three weeks remaining, as the 2018-19 NHL schedule is set to end on April 6^th, 2019 and currently five teams are fighting to secure the final two wild card sports in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile six teams are within six points of each other for the final two wild card spots in the Western Conference.

While the playoff spots are currently wide open, one team in the Eastern Conference is running away with the best record in hockey. That team is the Tampa Bay Lightning who has a 53-13-4 record and a league-high 110 points while becoming the first team in the NHL to secure a playoff spot this season.

As you continue to look at the Lightning, the team has been consistent both on the road and at home. Entering March 12^th, the Lightning has posted a 24-7-2 record on the road while posting a 24-7-2 record at the Amalie Arena.

On the ice, the Lightning have been one of the more difficult teams to slow down on the offensive side as they have recorded 272 goals through their first 71 contests. The team is led by NHL point’s leader Nikita Kucherov who has posted 111 points (33 goals, 78 assists) in 70 contests this season.

Along with Kucherov, Brayden Point ranks 9^th in the NHL with 83 points (37 goals, 46 assists) and Steven Stamkos ranks 13^th (34 goals, 45 assists). Despite the individual success, these three stars have shown their ability to share the puck while setting up their teammates.

The success doesn’t just stop on the offensive side as the team is allowing the fourth fewest goals at 183 on the defensive side of the ice. Much of that success has come from the play of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy who is allowing the fourth fewest goals in the NHL at just 2.23 per contest while posting an impressive 32-8 overall record.

Meanwhile Louis Domingue has posted a 20-5 record while allowing just 2.88 goals per contests. Along with their goal play, the Lightning have had stellar play from their defensemen Andy Greene, Kris Russell and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

As the Lightning continue to win, the team will be the one to beat during the playoffs in both the Eastern Conference as well as in the Stanley Cup.