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Arizona Coyotes 2015 Opponents: Tampa Bay Lightning

By William Grigsby

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The Arizona Coyotes want to avoid having lightning strike them, especially the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Let’s see what’s in store for this season.

Today we look at: Tampa Bay Lightning

2014-15 record: 50-24-8, 2nd in the Atlantic. Lost in six games to Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals

How the Arizona Coyotes did last season against the Lightning: 2 games, 0-2-0

Schedule this year against the Lightning: Tue 2/23 at Tampa Bay, Sat  3/19 Home

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Preseason

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Team Newcomers:  RW Erik C

ondra

Now Ex-Players: D Mark Barberio, LW Brenden Morrow

Coached by: Jon Cooper (4th year)

Who’s in Net:

Ben Bishop will be the starter and will have to be the workhorse, after backup Andrei Vasilevskiy suffered a blood clot and will be out 2-3 months.  The backup job will now go to either recent signee Ray Emery or prospect Kristers Gudlevskis. Neither one excites fans.

Quick thoughts about the Lightning:

  • The triplets line of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov, had 31 goals in 26 games during the playoffs.  They need to keep that production flowing.
  • Steven Stamkos is in the final year of a five year contract.  If he isn’t signed to an extension soon (and I’m sure he will) how much of a distraction will it be for this team? Better yet, will they want to put themselves in the same predicament the Blackhawks are in as far as salary cap mismanagement?
  • In addition to Stamkos, they have several young players that only have a year or two on their contract. They need to win now before the window closes in a hurry. They have a good shot this year. We’ll see.

Why the Lightning will win the Stanley Cup:

They have all the integral parts to win the coveted Cup this season. Their speed, youth and experience going to the finals will definitely help them in a repeat appearance. They came close last season, but weren’t healthy enough to dump the Blackhawks. No worries, this year the salary cap ridden Hawks will not get that far.

Why the Lightning won’t win the Stanley Cup:

The biggest question is the distraction of resigning Stamkos.  If they have any weakness, they could be a little deeper on defense. If they lost Victor Hedman to injury, they would be in damaged mode a bit by that.

Three Things We Like About You:

  1. That your GM Steve Yzerman actually goes out and acquires players who help his team. Can he teach GM Don Maloney how to do that?
  2. How can you not like a team who went to the Finals, and gave the mighty Blackhawks a challenge for the Cup?
  3. We like that one of your teams are in an area the original six teams claims is not ‘hockey country’, and yet is successful. That philosophy is so overused. Hockey belongs where fans want to see it, and where the NHL makes money, it’s that simple.

Three Things We Don’t Like About You:

  1. We know you think your star D-man Victor Hedman is all that… but Oliver Ekman-Larsson has it over him. Hedman had one good year, 55 points in 75 games, and he’s the next Nicklas Lidstrom?
  2. Your fans seem awfully touchy. Hey, you have a good team, stop the whining.
  3. Your uniforms look like a fourth grader’s pajamas. The Bolt is cool, but really…powder blue? Doesn’t put fear in the opposition, I’ll tell you that.

Prediction:

One thing is certain. The Bolts will be in the playoffs again. Who knows if they go as far as they did last season. The Stamkos thing could really distract them. The other thing is, will they completely wear out Bishop in goal? He’s only human. They should be in the Eastern Conference Finals again, and if you get that far you always have a shot to drink from the Cup.

Next: Arizona Coyotes Starting Lineup Taking Shape

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