TORONTO — The Tampa Bay Lightning were the hottest team in the NHL into early February, ripping off an impressive 19-1-1 run.<\/p>\n
Then came the three-week Olympic break, seemingly an inopportune time for a group on such an stellar roll.<\/p>\n
Surely a momentum buster, right?<\/p>\n
Has time eroded all that feel-good mojo?<\/p>\n
Not so, according to J.J. Moser<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think this team allows itself to get out of its groove,\u201d the Lightning defenseman told reporters in Tampa on Tuesday. \u201cWe\u2019re doing things and have built a culture that is built on consistency.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not going to change whether we\u2019ve had a break or not.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Moser\u2019s stance will be put to the test when the NHL returns to action with a divisional matchup between the Lightning and the rival Toronto Maple Leafs at Benchmark International Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS) in a game that will be broadcast nationally in both the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s some perspective on how good the Lightning have been.<\/p>\n On Dec. 18 the Lightning lost 2-1 to the visiting Los Angeles Kings. In the ensuing 68 days, Tampa Bay\u2019s only defeats were a 3-2 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues and an 8-5 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, both on the road. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n In the process, the Lightning (37-14-4) have rocketed into first place in the Atlantic Division, six points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. Included in those victories was a 6-5 shootout win against the Boston Bruins in front of 64,617 at Raymond James Stadium in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series on Feb. 1, a game in which the Lightning made the biggest comeback in franchise history by erasing a 5-1 Bruins lead.<\/p>\n