Blue Line Station
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New York Rangers look to take the season series against Tampa Bay

By Anthony Tornatore Jr

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 12: Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal during their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 12: Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal during their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – NOVEMBER 09: Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate their victory against the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL Global Series game at Ericsson Globe on November 9, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden. Tampa Bay won, 5-3. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – NOVEMBER 09: Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate their victory against the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL Global Series game at Ericsson Globe on November 9, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden. Tampa Bay won, 5-3. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Who are the Tampa Bay Lightning?

When people think of the Tampa Bay Lightning, they think of the team that was swept in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets after winning the President’s Trophy and tying the NHL record with 62 wins in one season. Unfortunately, they haven’t gotten off to the same start as they did this year. The Lightning currently sit at 8-5-2 and have only  18 points, the same as the Rangers in one fewer game. This is way off from there first 15 games last season, in which they went 11-3-1 and totaled 23 points. To say they are having a President’s Cup hangover is precisely correct.

Steven Stamkos leads the Lightning with 15 points on the young season. He has five goals, which is tied with Kucherov and Kevin Shattenkirk for the team lead, as well as 10 assists, which is tops on the team. Unfortunately, Stamkos has a plus/minus of -6, which is the worst on the team.

Last seasons Vezina Trophy winner, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has not been as successful as last season. He’s allowed three goals a game and has only saved 90% of the shots he’s faced. He has a record of 6-4 and is in the top 20 for all goaltenders this season. However, his play this year has been mediocre and not up to Jon Cooper’s liking.

The Lightning are just trying to get in the same groove that led them to the President’s Cup last season, but have not been able to get their footing down correctly.

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