While it seems next to impossible for the Lightning to make the playoffs at this point, they shouldn’t be counted out just yet.
It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s season has been disappointing so far. They have gone from being one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals to being tied for last in the Eastern Conference.
The purpose of this article isn’t to dissect why this is, but instead to present an unpopular and admittedly improbable viewpoint…the Tampa Bay Lightning will make the playoffs again this year.
Of course, it’s a long shot, but it’s possible. As of now, the Lightning is only seven points off of a wildcard spot. With 29 games left in the season, there’s still hope for the Bolts.
Tampa Bay Lightning
As one could imagine, other teams will be playing too so the seven points aren’t stationary. This means that more than likely, the Lightning will have to win the majority of their remaining games to stay competitive for the spot.
To anyone who has seen the Lightning play so far this season, this seems pretty improbable. To be frank, it is pretty improbable. But improbability is nothing new to the Lightning.
Injuries have always been a problem for the Lightning. It seems that every season now Steven Stamkos is destined to be sidelined for an extended period of time for some reason or another. Ben Bishop is also rather injury prone and has missed extended periods of time over the past few seasons.
Yet, if injuries are the Lightning’s problem, why have they made it deep into the playoffs for the past two seasons in a row? As the Lightning have shown, injuries don’t define the team and what they can achieve.
As they’ve shown time and time again, they’re a scrappy team and it’s a mistake to count them out of anything too soon. Historically speaking, the Bolts play their best hockey in improbable situations. They weren’t supposed to win the Stanley Cup in 2004 and had to force Game 7 to even put themselves in a position to bring home the cup.
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So let the odds be against the Lightning. Let everyone count them out. All that means is that every game will be a nailbiter for Lightning fans. In the end, it’s up to the players. Is it improbable for the Lightning to make it to the postseason again this year? Yes. Is it Impossible? Not at all.