Atlantic Division 2014-15 Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning

2013-14 NHL Atlantic Division preview: The Tampa Bay Lightning will be a formidable force with Steven Stamkos healthy, so can they make a deep playoff run?

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SI.com's 2014-15 Preseason All-NHL Teams: first, second, third

COACH: 

2013-14 RECORD: 46-27-9, 101 points (second in Atlantic; lost to Canadiens, 4-0, in first round)

VITAL SIGNS: 2.93 goals-for per game (8th), 2.62 goals-against per game (11th), 18.52 power play pct. (13th), 80.74 penalty kill pct. (23rd); shootout record: 8-6 (7th)

NOTABLE ARRIVALS: D Anton Stralman, F Brian Boyle, G Evgeni Nabokov, F Brenden Morrow

NOTABLE DEPARTURES: D Keith Aulie, G Anders Lindback

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART

Forwards

Ondrej Palat — Steven Stamkos — Ryan Callahan
Jonathan Drouin — ValtteriFilppula — Richard Panik
Alex Killorn — Tyler Johnson — Nikita Kucherov
Brenden Morrow — Brian Boyle — J.T. Brown
Cedric Paquette

Defensemen

Victor Hedman — Matt Carle
Anton Stralman — Radko Gudas
Jason Garrison — Eric Brewer
Andrej Sustr, Mark Barberio

Goalies

Ben Bishop
EvgeniNabokov

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in the league last season.

• GM Yzerman confirms that Drouin will be in the lineup

Ben Bishop

Bishop's breakthrough season earned him consideration as a Vezina finalist, but late-season wrist and elbow injuries ruined his party, keeping him out of the playoffs and effectively ending Tampa Bay's postseason chances. He admitted recently that his wrist is not yet fully healed, and while he hopes to be 100 percent by opening night, it could be a lingering concern. The Bolts have proved they can survive without Stamkos. They're dead in the water without Bishop.

PREDICTION: 99 points, third in Atlantic

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