Plus: All-Black line makes history in regular-season finale
| Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters |  | | [MARY HOLT | Associated Press] | | Lightning open first-round playoff series Sunday | The whole season, the Lightning's goal was to reach this point — the postseason — so they would have a chance to defend their Stanley Cup title. If their plan held up, they knew they'd get one of the best players in the game back, wing Nikita Kucherov, and with most of last season's battle-tested group also back, the Lightning are a team that knows how to win.
Having said all that, the Lightning enter the playoffs somewhat beaten and battered. They ended the season with losses in their last three games, and have scored two goals or fewer in five of their last six games. Their last two losses came to a Florida Panthers team they'll have to get past in the first round to advance. And Tampa Bay's injury list grew by the day.
The good news is that defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh plus forward Ondrej Palat all returned to practice Thursday. The hope is that those players are back in action come Sunday night, when the Lightning play Game 1 against the Panthers on the road at the BB&T Center. The hope is also that the season-long premonition of Kucherov's return comes true, and Steven Stamkos continues to trend in the right direction for the postseason opener.
But none of those things is guaranteed at this point, so Bolts fans have every right to be nervous and worried.
Still, fans have every reason to believe the Lighting can make another run to the Cup. They've been a team built to win for years, but after winning the Cup under such unique circumstances in the bubble last season, they now know everything it takes to win. They realize it won't be easy.
"Nothing tastes better than winning a Stanley Cup, but it's a long road," Hedman said after Thursday's practice. "That's what we know for sure. It's going to take a lot of sacrifice, it's going to take a lot of toll on people's bodies. But that's pushed to the side. You've got to do your best to bring it every night and bring your best."
— Eduardo A. Encina, eencina@tampabay.com | | | | Gain unlimited access to Lightning, Buccaneers and Rays coverage for about $1 a week! | | | |  | | [Special to the Times | Tampa Bay Lightning] | | A memorable moment in regular-season finale | It's important to note that Gemel Smith, Daniel Walcott and Mathieu Joseph are all good friends. So for them to share in such a magnificent moment on Monday night in Sunrise — becoming what is believed to be the first starting forward line in NHL history consisting of three Black players — makes it even more special.
They knew going into Monday's game that they would form the Lightning's fourth line when Walcott was promoted to make his NHL debut and Smith was recalled from the taxi squad. But they didn't know they would start until about five minutes before puck drop.
In a league where less than 5 percent of its players are Black or persons of color, it was a landmark moment.
"You know, as we move forward here as a league, you hope that this isn't the story," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game. "And maybe it's a story today, but as the league gets more diverse, you hope it's not going to be a story anymore and it's just going to be kind of the norm that it's a league for everybody." | |  | | [LYNNE SLADKY | Associated Press] | | In case you missed it ... | • Playoff primer: How and where Lightning fans can follow their first-round playoff series against Florida
• These five Panthers could be pests in the postseason
• Opening Amalie Arena to more fans for postseason a deliberate process
• No, the Lightning are not slumping. But are they beat up?
• Steven Stamkos receives fourth career Masterton Trophy nomination
• Pat Maroon suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct
• Lightning will benefit from relaxed postseason protocols | | | Stanley Cup playoffs first round | Sunday: Game 1, Lightning at Panthers, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Game 2, Lightning at Panthers, 8 p.m.
May 20: Game 3, Panthers at Lightning, 6:30 p.m.
May 22: Game 4, Panthers at Lightning, 12:30 p.m.
May 24: Game 5, Lightning at Panthers *
May 26: Game 6, Panthers at Lightning *
May 28: Game 7, Lightning at Panthers *
(* If necessary)
Times for Games 5, 6 and 7 will be announced at a later date.
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard. | | Did someone forward this to you? Get Lightning Strikes in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. | | | | |
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