One reason the Tampa Bay Lightning were the best team in the NHL this season was their power play, which was ranked No. 1 (28.2 percent). Brayden Point, with 20, and Steven Stamkos, with 19, ranked first and second in the NHL in power-play goals, and Nikita Kucherov had an NHL-best 48 power-play points, including 15 goals (tied for eighth).
The Columbus Blue Jackets might be able to slow down that power play in the Eastern Conference First Round. Columbus had the best penalty kill in the League after the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 25 (89.7 percent). For the season, it was tied for first with the Lightning and Arizona Coyotes for (85.0 percent).
The Blue Jackets allowed an NHL-low 30 power-play goals, making for a compelling matchup against the Lightning, who were first with 74 man-advantage goals. Tampa Bay is so good, winning the special-teams battle won't assure Columbus of victory, but if it can't limit the Lightning power play, it will be a more difficult uphill climb.