Bolts By The Bay Mailbag: Who Are The Biggest Threats To The Tampa Bay Lightning In The Eastern Conference

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Dec 13, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle (11) and Washington Capitals right wing

Troy Brouwer

(20) battle for the puck in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, the Washington Capitals may be the team that stands in the way of the Tampa Bay Lightning making it to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances.

As the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off, the Tampa Bay Lightning are slotted to play the Florida Panthers in the first round. Florida will not be an easy test, but the Bolts should be able to get by in five games. Detroit will defeat Montreal in seven games, Washington will defeat the Islanders in 6, and the Penguins will take out the Rangers in 7 games.

You next have the Lightning taking on the Detroit Red Wings in the second round with Washington matching up against Pittsburgh. Just like last year, the Lightning and Red Wings will go back and forth while taking the series to seven games before the Lightning come out in front while the Capitals take the series in six games against the Sidney Crosby led Pittsburgh Penguins.

That sets up the match up of Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals against Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning. A series that we have talked about in previous articles that truly has a chance to happen. It would be a fantastic back and forth series with two teams that have offensive fire power as well as goaltenders that rank among the leagues elite.

What will make the Capitals such a tough opponent? Their ability to score on the powerplay is second to none and will make the Tampa Bay Lightning penalty kill need to work its tail off. A powerplay unit of Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, and John Carlson will once again help the team rank as the top powerplay in the NHL during the regular season, and the Lightning must stay out of the box in order to have a chance.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will once again be one of the best teams in the NHL during the 2015-16 season. Their ability to score with all four forward lines as well as defend well is a combination few teams are able to match. However, there are teams that will look to dethrone the defending Eastern Conference champions, and the Washington Capitals will be their biggest threat.

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