TAMPA — Defined roles, desirable depth, balanced scoring ... this is the team Lightning fans have been wating for.
A season marked by erratic play and an overcrowded trainer’s room is giving way to a January surge that has lifted Tampa Bay within striking distance of the Atlantic Division lead.
“When you start stringing a few together, all of a sudden your confidence starts going,’’ coach Jon Cooper said after Sunday’s 3-1 triumph against Florida at Amalie Arena. “I don’t care what team you are in the league, you win a few in a row, you think you can win every single game.