Why Lightning have given us reason to believe at NHL All-Star break

TAMPA — For much of this season, the Lightning gave us reason to believe they might end up on the outside of the playoffs looking in. That their loss of depth might finally have caught up with them, an untimely buildup of injuries too much to overcome in a tight Eastern Conference.

On some nights, they left us scratching our heads, wondering why they couldn’t build momentum game to game or period to period. At times, it seemed potentially the greatest single-player performance in franchise history could end without a postseason run.

But here we are, at the exhalation point of the season that is the All-Star break, and the Lightning are where they usually are this time of year, well-positioned in the playoff race and set up for a strong finish.

With 32 games remaining in the regular season, here’s what we know about the Lightning heading into the stretch run.

As January arrived, the Lightning were in the last stretch of the Eastern Conference playoff spots, with four clubs closing in on them. It was doubtful if they would even make it to the playoffs. With six of their final nine games being played at home before to the break, the schedule offered some relief.

The Lightning finished January with a 9-3-0 record, winning eight of their last nine games, while some of their playoff rivals faltered. Gaining ground may swiftly shift your position, and as of one month ago, Tampa Bay is in a far more comfortable situation.

The Lightning are third in the Atlantic Division with 59 points, one point ahead of the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, who currently occupy the East’s two wild-card spots. They are seven points in front of the Islanders, the next-closest team in the conference standings.

With the league’s highest scoring average and a strong trajectory toward career highs in both goals and points, Nikita Kucherov is enjoying the finest start to his career. Furthermore, for the previous month, the right flank has quietly been among his team’s best two-way players.

Kucherov made some mental errors early in the season that led to expensive turnovers and odd-man rushes. However, he’s reduced his errors and discovered a way to be creative without trying to do too much, which makes him one of the best playmakers in the game.

It may not be as noticeable, but on the defensive end Kucherov has been strong on the forecheck. He’s finishing hits and showing resilience battling for pucks. And when he gets the puck on his stick in his own end, he’s often able to break out cleanly and set the Lightning offense on its way.