NHL Playoffs: 5 things we learned from Lightning beating Islanders

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May 8, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin (27), defenseman Slater Koekkoek (29) and teammates celebrate after they beat the New York Islanders in game five of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Fully healthy or not, the Lightning are cup contenders

The Lightning are going to be underdogs against either the President’s Trophy winning Capitals or red-hot Penguins in the next round. While that is completely understandable, it would be unwise to write Tampa Bay off as a Stanley Cup contender given the form Hedman, Kucherov and Bishop are in.

Considering who the Lightning lost shortly before the postseason, that is a tremendous accomplishment. Just about everyone wrote Tampa Bay off when Stamkos went down with a blood clot in late March, but it has somehow found a way to replace his 36 goals worth of production.

Perhaps even more impressive is that Tampa Bay has succeeded without star defenseman Anton Stralman, who fractured his leg in late March. The Lightning have plenty of depth offensively, and Drouin’s call-up certainly helped, but the situation on defense looked grim without Stralman.

Tampa Bay’s defense was terrific throughout the Detroit series, and only suffered brief hiccups in Game 1 and Game 3 against New York. That’s not to mention J.T. Brown and Eric Condra, who were both lost during the course of the playoffs.

The good news for the Lightning is that Stamkos and Stralman have a chance to return during the Conference Finals. If that happens, an already dangerous team will get even stronger.

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