DALLAS — The Tampa Bay Lightning are vying to do what few teams before them have done: Win back-to-back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships.
On Tuesday night, the Bolts had a chance to take a significant step toward that coveted goal.
As the Lightning took the ice on the road against the Dallas Stars, they did so with a chance to clinch a playoff berth for the fifth straight season. It was a close game throughout, but the Stars' lone, late third-period goal was enough to thwart the Lightning's chances to clinch.
Ahead of Tuesday's game, the Bolts sat at 5th in the Eastern Conference with 96 points, good enough for 3rd in the Atlantic Division. Four Eastern Conference teams had already punched their tickets to the postseason: The Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tampa Bay would still love to join them.
If they do, the Bolts would be poised for another deep playoff run.
Although the team lost some depth after last season, the core of its championship teams remained intact — Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Alex Killorn and Andrei Vasilevskiy.
It should come as no surprise then that Stamkos, Hedman, Point, Kucherov and Killorn round out the Top 5 leading point scorers this season for the Bolts. As for their goaltender, Vasilevskiy is tied for the NHL lead in wins this season with 35.
Leaning on those guys will be critical as the regular season winds down and playoff hockey draws near. Staying healthy will also be vital. Currently, the Bolts have an injury-free roster.
But, before a run in the playoffs can start, the Lightning have to ensure their place at the party to begin with. Fortunately, their playoff hopes remain very much alive.
With the Lightning's longest homestand of the season coming up, they now have a chance to clinch in front of their fans at Amalie Arena. The first of the 5-game homestand begins on Thursday against Anaheim.
The NHL playoffs will begin on Monday, May 2, with the regular season concluding on Friday, April 29.
