Conor Geekie (photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/798fbf19-e031-4b8c-a132-62fe7563b2c2.jpeg] Conor Geekie (photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel) The Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/] kick off their playoff series against the Florida Panthers on April 22. It will be a series for fans to watch, as both teams have plenty of stars and skill. They also have a very deep rivalry, which makes the games even more entertaining when they play each other. The Lightning [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwruDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] will undoubtedly be relying on stars like Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Victor Hedman to help lead them to victory. However, while it is great that the Lightning have experienced players, fans should not sleep on the team's younger players during the playoffs. Two young players who could be under-the-radar X-factors for the Lightning this post-season are forwards Conor Geekie and Gage Goncalves. Geekie, 20, is the Lightning's top prospect and possesses a ton of upside. The 2022 first-round pick played in his first 52 NHL games this season with the Bolts, posting eight goals, 14 points, and a minus-4 rating. While these offensive numbers from Geekie may not necessarily stand out, there is reason to believe that he could break out for the Bolts during the playoffs. After being called back up to the Lightning's roster at the end of the season, he scored two goals in three games. In addition, the 6-foot-4 forward is built for the physical style of playoff hockey, as his 97 hits this season show. As for Goncalves, he undoubtedly took a step forward as this regular-season carried on. After beginning the year with just two points in his first 27 games, Goncalves finished the season with 18 points in his last 33 contests. This includes recording two goals and two assists in his final four games of the campaign. Goncalves has blossomed into a key depth offensive contributor for the Lightning, and he should not be overlooked this post-season because of it. If Goncalves and Geekie continue to step up, it will only make the Lightning an even tougher club to face in the playoffs this year. Recent Lightning News Ex-Lightning Tough Guy Out For Beginning Of Playoffs [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5849c266-7cda-4f63-9e45-a577c31ed1a2.jpeg] Ex-Lightning Tough Guy Out For Beginning Of Playoffs During this past off-season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick. The move was understandable, as the <a href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwruDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen">Lightning</a> needed more cap space, and Jeannot struggled to find his fit with Tampa Bay.<br> [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/ex-lightning-tough-guy-out-for-beginning-of-playoffs] Lightning Star Hit Brand New Level This Season [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5bf85d2a-e083-413d-b0c6-d16aec2d9f4b.jpeg] Lightning Star Hit Brand New Level This Season The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> are back in the playoffs after a strong 2024-25 regular-season. The Lightning finished the season with a 47-27-8 record and secured the second-place spot in the Atlantic Division standings. Overall, it was a successful year for the <a href="https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwruDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen">Lightning</a>, and they will now look to knock out the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the first round from here. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/lightning-star-hit-brand-new-level-this-season] 3 Lightning Players Who Need To Carry Team In Playoffs [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c1c8ad3c-172b-4b8a-b007-7d5672865130.jpeg] 3 Lightning Players Who Need To Carry Team In Playoffs The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> finished the 2024-25 season with a strong 47-27-8 record and are in the playoffs for the eighth straight year because of it. They now have the opportunity to get revenge against the Florida Panthers in the first round after being knocked out by them last year. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/3-lightning-players-who-need-to-carry-team-in-playoffs] Ex-Lightning Star Had Big Year For New Team [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/84acbc3c-a376-4956-a156-d66e46b1e922.jpeg] Ex-Lightning Star Had Big Year For New Team During the 2024 NHL off-season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> made a massive change to their blueline. The Atlantic Division club dealt star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for blueliner J.J. Moser, forward Conor Geekie, a 2024 seventh-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning/latest-news/ex-lightning-star-had-big-year-for-new-team]
