Bolts By The Bay Mailbag: Which Team From Each Division Will Give The Tampa Bay Lightning The Biggest Challenge?

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A team that can match the Tampa Bay Lightning goal for goal and stride for stride, the Washington Capitals may be the team that challenges the Bolts for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

In a division with the President Trophy winning New York Rangers, Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh Penguins, and young up and coming teams in the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets, there are many tough opponents that the Tampa Bay Lightning will need to face if they want to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals once again next season. However, a former division rival before conference realignment may be the team’s biggest challenge when the puck drops for the regular season opener in October.

The Washington Capitals are a team that can score and skate with the top teams in the NHL. The Tampa Bay Lightning are a team built on speed and Washington is built similarly. With both teams being strong down the middle at the center position and having deadly scorers in Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos captaining their respective team’s, there is no doubt that other teams around the league will have trouble stopping these two formidable offenses.

While they are built strongly down the middle, the team’s also have skillful wingers that can distribute and put the puck in the back of the net. Nicklas Backstrom and Nikita Kucherov are just two of the names that make up the talent these two team’s have at that position.

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On the blue line, both team’s have a solid core of defenseman that can shut down the opposing team’s offensive attack. The Lightning have Anton Stralman, Victor Hedman, Jason Garrison, and Braydon Coburn as their top-4 while the Caps counter with John Carlson, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, and Carl Alzner. These two blue lines can make life difficult for their opponents forward unit, and can make these two high-powered offenses sometimes seem non-existent.

In goal, both team’s have superstars that along with their strong blue lines can cause offenses to stagger. Braden Holtby, fresh off a career season and a new five-year, $30.5 million dollar contract, has moved himself among the league’s top puck stoppers. His career 2.44 GAA and .921 SV% are fantastic for someone entering just his fifth full year in the league. On the other side of the ice, Ben Bishop has shown that he has what it takes to lead a team to the Stanley Cup Finals. With these two superstars in net, it may be a long night for goal scorers.

No matter what, whenever the Bolts and Caps play head-to-head, it is must see television. The game could be a 6-5 shootout or a 2-1 offensive struggle due to the amount of talent that is on the rosters of both teams. Look for these two teams to top their respective divisions next season and possibly meet up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the chance to battle for who will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Next: Next, the Central Division

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