Do the Tampa Bay Lightning have reenforcements coming?
As good as the Bolts have been, dismissing two teams in 10 games, they will face their biggest challenge against either Washington or Pittsburgh, both of whom were better in the regular season than they were.
But what if the Bolts get Steven Stamkos back?
And what if they get Anton Stralman back?
For Tampa Bay, there was no need to rush either player against the Islanders. Not when they won four straight. But both Stamkos and Stralman have been seen hanging around the team’s locker room. A return date for either might not be that far off.
The Lightning could use both. Stamkos was once again the Lightning’s leading scorer with 36 goals. Stralman was a steady defensive player. And the loss of both has provided extra minutes for others to have to fill. With them both, the Lightning are deeper, more dangerous.
Who knows? It could be enough to get the Bolts past another round and into their second straight finals.
