Fifteen: Tampa Bay (6th Atlantic)

The Lightning have all the pieces when healthy. Steven Stamkos C - on pace for 33 goals - is  producing but not as much as he has in the past. If he gets on a hot streak and Tampa stays steady until the injuries heal, the Lightning might find themselves in the finals again. It's a BIG if, though. Tampa Bay has yet to play like they did last season. Victor Hedman D and Anton Stralman D are playing solid hockey. Nikita Kucherov RW is contributing well offensively.

Record: 17 - 14 - 3 37pts ( projected: 20 - 15 - 4 44pts)

Significant Injuries:
Ondrej Palat LWBrian Boyle C
J.T. Brown RW
Tyler Johnson C
Matt Carle D

These are all guys that put in respectable minutes and add good depth and provide goals.

Next Fifteen Days 12/21/2015 - 1/4/2015:
Tuesday Vancouver visits
Saturday Columbus visits
Monday Montreal visits
Wednesday New York Rangers visit
Saturday Minnesota visits

Fifteen days to stay at home - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Tampa Bay can certainly make a statement in this fifteen by running the board. No scary games here.

7 out of 10pts

3 - 1 - 1

Last Fifteen Days 12/6/2015 - 12/20/2015:
LOSS 1 -3 at Los Angeles
WIN 4 - 1 Ottawa
LOSS 2 -1 Washington
WIN 2 -1 at Columbus
WIN 5 - 4 (OT) at Toronto
LOSS 3 - 5 at Washington
WIN 5 -2 Ottawa

4 - 3 - 0

8 out of 14pts

 

The three losses are to top-tier teams playing solid hockey. So this week has no surprises for a team that should make the playoffs. Well, it is surprising this team is winning consistently with so many injuries.