Bleacher Report · May 19, 2021
NHL Playoffs 2021: Updated Schedule, Stanley Cup Odds and Picks
The Tampa Bay Lightning have added reinforcements for the Stanley Cup playoffs, and their quest to repeat as champions is off to a strong start.
Despite being on the road for the first two games of the postseason, the Lightning have taken a 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Florida Panthers.
Florida may be the No. 2 seed, but No. 3-seeded Tampa Bay has outscored it 8-5 thus far. Since the end of the regular season, the Lightning have brought back numerous players who were out injured, including Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Kucherov missed the entire regular season following hip surgery.