More work left for Lightning despite clinching playoff berth

When the Tampa Bay Lightning woke up Saturday morning, their name had a black 'x' next to it in the National Hockey League standings, signifying the team had qualified for the postseason.
The Lightning received the coveted addition to their team name overnight following Montreal's 8-2 loss at Anaheim. The Bolts are guaranteed to finish above the Canadiens at the conclusion of the regular season, and there are now just seven Eastern Conference teams that could theoretically end the year ahead of the Lightning in the standings, thus the playoff-clinching designation.

But despite the fact the Lightning are in with four more weeks of the regular season to go, now is not a time for the team to take its foot off the gas and coast into the postseason. There's still plenty of work left for this squad over the final 14 games of the regular season, and they'll look continue improving and preparing for the postseason when they host the Detroit Red Wings tonight at AMALIE Arena (7 p.m. puck drop), the final game in a four-game homestand for the Bolts.

"It's something you work all year for, but it's not time to sit back and be like, 'Oh great, we made it,'" Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. "Yes, this is what we've been working for, but there's still so much more to do. I don't think with 14 games left we can pat ourselves on the back and say good job. We've got to make sure we keep pressing forward here so we don't skip a beat coming into mid-April. When you sit back, it is comforting to know that you're in, but for us, we're not resting on this. There's a lot more to do."
The Lightning couldn't match the intensity of their last opponent in a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, a defeat that snapped the Bolts' eight-game home win streak and 11-game home point streak. The Wild are fighting to remain in the final playoff position in the Western Conference while the Lightning are comfortably perched atop the NHL standings.
Being able to match the intensity of future opponents over the final month of the regular season is going to be a challenge for a Lightning team that currently owns a 15-point lead over the rest of the League.
"We're far from accomplishing what we want to do," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. "We want to continue to get better. We thought our last game just wasn't a good indication of that. We'll look to get back at it tonight. Making the playoffs is one thing, but we've talked about this team and the expectations that we have greater than that. We're on the first step and just want to continue to get better these last few games."
The Lightning have responded well this season following a loss. The team is 14-1-1 in the next game after being defeated and has dropped back-to-back games just twice this season and only once in regulation.
"I have not put this team in the category that they're resting or taking their foot off the gas," Cooper said. "Are we in a little different situation than others? There's no question. The level you have to get to to win games in this league, it's high. But there are teams that are coming in here that have something to prove or they're fighting for something. You're playing teams with all different mentalities. For the most part, our group has handled it pretty well. The Minnesota game, we got beat. (Minnesota) wanted it a little bit more, but that's been few and far between with this group, and usually with games like that we bounce back. Can't guarantee the result, but guys will bounce back with good effort."

INJURY NEWS: It's been a while since the Lightning have had to deal with multiple injuries, but the Bolts are a bit banged up entering tonight's contest against Detroit, particularly on the blue line.
On Friday, the team announced Anton Stralman would be day-to-day with a lower body injury and recalled Jan Rutta from AHL Syracuse. Dan Girardi, who was absent from the team's morning skate Saturday, is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
With two defensemen gone from the lineup, it appears likely Rutta will make his Tampa Bay debut tonight against the Red Wings.
"It's great to be here," Rutta said. "It's a great organization. The team's doing really well. I'm really happy I'm here right now, and we'll see how it goes."
Adam Erne also did not participate at Saturday's morning skate as he deals with an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
Cooper said all three injured players - Stralman, Girardi and Erne - will accompany the team on its upcoming two-game road trip, which starts Monday in Toronto.