Gage Goncalves celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/76f7e68a-a5cd-4fb9-934e-149da0b9d7d1.webp] Gage Goncalves celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images) By Nicholas Rego, The Hockey News Intern In recent years, one of the best teams in the NHL has been the Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/top-10-nhl-teams-with-the-most-wins-over-the-past-decade?backLinkUrl=%2Fbbs%2Fnews%2Fsearch%2Fposts%3Fq%3Dlightning%26sortBy%3DpublishTime%26range%3DallTime&backLinkLabel=Back%20to%20search%20results]. They have been dominant throughout the regular season and, more importantly, in the playoffs. The Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and then made it back to the Cup final in 2022, losing to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. Who are Ryan Kennedy's top-8 Stanley Cup contenders? Entering this season, there was some doubt that the Lightning were going to continue being a dominant team. And losing former captain Steven Stamkos to the Nashville Predators via free agency left some questions about the direction the team was going in. But those questions were quickly answered when the Lightning signed UFA winger Jake Guentzel to a seven-year, $63-million contract [https://puckpedia.com/player/jake-guentzel] on July 1. One of the main reasons why the Bolts are considered one of the best teams in recent history is goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. During the Lightning’s three straight Stanley Cup-final runs, Vasilevskiy stood on his head. During those three playoff campaigns, he averaged a .928 save percentage, 2.10 goals-against average and posted seven shutouts. This year, Vasilevskiy is still performing at a high level, giving the Lightning a chance in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. He currently sits at a 2.01 GAA, .926 SP and has four shutouts on the season. Another big reason for the Lightning’s success is two-time NHL scoring champion Nikita Kucherov. During Tampa Bay’s three-year run to the Cup final from 2020 to 2022, Kucherov scored 23 goals and 93 points in 71 playoff games – nearly 30 points more than the second-highest playoff scorer during that span. This season, Kucherov is still Kucherov, with 28 goals and 92 points in 61 games. When the games count the most, having someone like Kucherov leading the way on the scoring front and someone like Vasilevskiy in the crease can only lead to success deep into the playoffs. The supporting cast of players are contributing in so many ways that they are helping the Lightning continue their regular-season success. Players such as Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli have the ability to take over a game on any given night. And having veteran defensemen such as Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh to steady the blueline helps the rest of the roster breathe when the puck is on their sticks. In addition, the team recently acquired center Yanni Gourde and right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand at the 2025 trade deadline, further deepening their roster. Three-quarters of the regular season is in the books and the Lightning are holding their own in the Atlantic Division, chasing the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers for first place. The Bolts have a shot at securing the top spot [https://thehockeynews.com/news/R2RLPjzDGLnkdlawP4Hh?backLinkUrl=%2Fbbs%2Fnews%2Fsearch%2Fposts%3Fq%3Dlightning%26sortBy%3DpublishTime%26range%3DallTime&backLinkLabel=Back%20to%20search%20results] and becoming a Stanley Cup threat once again as they pursue their fourth NHL championship in franchise history. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
