TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay was a popular -- really, the most popular -- preseason choice to win the Stanley Cup in 2020.
And while no one predicted that the Lightning would go 82-0, there might have been a few people who wondered if it was possible.
So imagine the surprise, inside and outside the organization, when Tampa Bay went 13-10-3 in its first 26 games and, two months into the season, looked as if it might be fortunate to compete for a playoff berth, let alone a championship.
But the Lightning has regained its equilibrium, despite regressing a bit in some recent games, and enters tonight's game against the Penguins at 7:08 at Amalie Arena tied with them for fourth place in the overall standings, although the Penguins have a game-in-hand.