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Posted on January 6th 2020

Tampa Bay +450 to win Division

The Bolts are just seven points behind the Bruins for top spot but TB has two games in hand. That has the potential to be just three points behind the Bruins. The other team to worry about is the Maple Leafs but the two are tied right now and again, TB has two games in hand on the Leafs too. We’re more concerned about the Leafs than the B’s, as Boston’s lack of secondary scoring makes them extremely catchable. Frankly, we’d be shocked if both Toronto and TB didn’t pass the Bruins.

The Lightning started the year off slow in terms of wins and losses but don’t be misled. The way Tampa Bay has played over the past two months proves once again that they’re the team to beat in the NHL. They’ve carried play like the best team in the league, and they’ve also done well limiting their chances against. The one area that Tampa Bay has struggled at is goaltending, which is why they’re not dominating in the win column but that’s starting to come around too.

Andrei Vasilevskiy hasn’t been as sharp as expected this season but December did showcase his best month of the season in regards to quality starts. He posted a save percentage of .920 or higher in seven December games, which was the best of the season for him. Prior, his save % was a pedestrian .903.  Given Vasilevskiy’s history, improvement is almost inevitable. 

One of the best offenses in the league, and a defensively strong team that has had some unfortunate results, is Tampa Bay immune from more bad luck or average goaltending? Of course not, but find me a team that doesn’t have those issues and I’ll find you a team that went 82-0-0. Tampa’s pace and style has them on an upward trend, and if their goaltending can finally round into form like it was expected to, then it’s not out of the question that Tampa Bay could come storming for the top spot in the division and blow past Boston. This is still the league’s best team and at 4½-1 with 40 games left, they’re a fu**ing steal.

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