Crossing The NHL’s Atlantic Division: Week 23
By Tim Bayer
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning
By Tasha Meares of Bolts By The Bay
This has certainly been a rollercoaster week for the Tampa Bay Lightning, which culminated in one of the most bittersweet days the Bolts have seen in some time.
On Tuesday night, the Lightning dropped the last game of their four-game road trip to the St. Louis Blues. The very next day, obviously, the day of the NHL Trade Deadline, we got both the best and worst news Lightning fans could have hoped to hear.
On the same day we welcomed back center Steven Stamkos to the lineup after missing a little over three months due to a fractured tibia, we also said goodbye to captain Martin St. Louis.
Everyone has their assumptions and their opinions on the matter, some of which greatly vary from one another; however, at the end of the day, we have to move past this and keep looking forward to the next game. The Lightning are in a position to nab a playoff spot and be real contenders this season, and if they cannot find a way to refocus on the task at hand, then all of that could be lost in the blink of an eye.
The Lightning are now staring down a six-game home stand. Hopefully, they can get things back on track and really push towards the post-season like they have been most of the season.