Lightning's Playoff Hopes on Edge

0:00It's March 15th, here's your NHL news in two minutes. Subscribe to Stay Locked in all season. The Tampa Bay Lightning hit a rough patch last week, dropping two of three games, including a key home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. They're now two wins and seven losses since February 26th, with a standing spot that's getting shaky. Sitting at 84 points and 65 games, they lead third place Montreal by just two points, while Buffalo holds first with 88. Points in 67 games. The team was scorching hot earlier, winning 20 of 23 games, and even challenging the Colorado Avalanche for top spot in the league. But their expected goal share has dipped to 46.90% lately, showing real struggles, not just bad luck. Fans and analysts are worried about home ice advantage slipping away in the playoffs, especially with Buffalo on a nine wins in 10 games hot streak. Tampa Bay desperately needs some spark to turn things around before it's too late.

1:00Bright spy for the bolts, Nikita Kucherov topped a pole of NHL.com riders for the heart trophy, the Lees MVP award, winning on a tiebreaker. In 61 games, he has 34 goals and 72 assists, pacing for his fourth straight season with 80 assists, a feat only Wayne. Gretzky has matched. Looking ahead, the Lightning face at Tough West Coast Road Trip this week, starting Tuesday night against the Seattle Kraken, then Thursday at N. Vancouver, Saturday and Calgary, and Sunday versus Minnesota. Winds here could get them back on track. D&N is sponsored by our partner. Your pillow just got smarter. It plays your podcast and music, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.