Lightning top Maple Leafs to Move Into First Place Tie in NHL Atlantic Division

The defending NHL Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning got off to a slow start this season and were only 18-16-4 at the end of January but they kicked it into high gear after that. On February 29th, the Lightning edged the Toronto Maple Leafs (a franchise that has been disappointing its fans annually since 1968) 2-1 behind a pair of goals by Tyler Johnson. The victory gave Tampa Bay (37-22-4) 78 points and the Lightning moved into a first place tie with the Florida Panthers (35-19-8, 72 points). It was Tampa Bay’s seventh straight victory.

While Tampa Bay has warmed up, the Panthers have cooled down, and were only 6-7 in February. There’s no need for panic in the Panthers’ camp, but the race in the Atlantic has gotten close, with the Detroit Red Wings (75 points) and Boston Bruins (74) nipping at the heels of the co leaders as we head into the final six weeks of the regular season.

It seems the NHL saw the error of its ways and is allowing embedded videos again. Here’s the highlight reel for the Lightning-Leafs game.