$5 Things We\'ve Learned From the Tampa Bay Lightning\'s Early-Season Action$

5 Things We've Learned From the Tampa Bay Lightning's Early-Season Action

By Nick Villano

5 Things We've Learned From the Lightning's Early-Season Action

Ryan Callahan Tampa Bay Lightning — The Tampa Bay Lightning have been up and down to start the season, but they still find themselves in second place in the Atlantic Division. This team is fighting an uphill battle, with the strong start coming from the Montreal Canadiens. Here is what we know from the Lightning so far.

5. More Consistent Triplets

Tampa Bay Lightning

5. More Consistent Triplets

Tampa Bay Lightning — The Triplets have not been the same unit that scared everyone in last year's postseason. Tyler Johnson only has four points after 10 games and Ondrej Palat is sitting in the same position, while Nikita Kucherov is doing even worse with just two points. They need to get their offensive game going if they are going to be a driving force for the Lightning.

4. Steven Stamkos Is Still A Superstar

Tampa Bay Lightning

4. Steven Stamkos Is Still A Superstar

Tampa Bay Lightning — After a dismal performance in the playoffs, Steven Stamkos was questioned whether he was still one of the best in the NHL. There should be no more questions. He is holding this offense up, with five goals in the early going. He is shooting 22.7 percent, showing he isn't being a puck hog. Stamkos is proving he is going to be worth the $ 100 million contract he is about to get.

3. Victor Hedman Deserves To Be In The Top Defenseman Conversation

Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Victor Hedman Deserves To Be In The Top Defenseman Conversation

Tampa Bay Lightning — Victor Hedman has nine assists already. Nine. He is a defenseman with nearly a point per game on assists alone. He is one of the best defenders in the league and deserves to be recognized for it.

2. Need To Improve The Penalty Kill

Tampa Bay Lightning

2. Need To Improve The Penalty Kill

Tampa Bay Lightning — None of the Lightning's team stats are impressive, but their penalty kill is just bad. They are allowing a goal once in every four penalty kills. That is going to eventually kill them in their division. It is early, and nobody should freak out about special teams, but there should be some semblance of change in the next few weeks.

1. The Division Is An Uphill Battle

Tampa Bay Lightning

1. The Division Is An Uphill Battle

Tampa Bay Lightning — The Montreal Canadiens won their first nine games. Right off the bat, they get a six point lead on the Lightning. This obviously is not a huge deficit, but these points do matter. They can't fall further behind a juggernaut, which is what the Canadiens look like this season.

Teams in this article »

Tampa Bay Lightning

Share On Facebook

Share