Vincent Lecavalier Operation May Scuttle Tampa Bay Lightning Playoff Hopes

The Tampa Bay Lightning made several preseason lists as one of the NHL teams likely to improve the most this year. Many prognosticators saw the Lightning as a likely playoff performer that might just challenge the Washington Capitals for first place in the Southeast division.

Tampa Bay got off to a good start. Third-year man Steven Stamkos is leading the league with 15 goals and is tied with Sidney Crosby with 27 points in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.

Nashville back-up Dan Ellis was signed to share the load with Mike Smith in net. Currently he's leading the team with a reasonable .910 save percentage, two shutouts and 2.47 goals against average.

Two years ago, the team gave up 32.9 shots per game, third-worst in the league. Last year they were tied for sixth-worst with Carolina, giving up 31.4 shots per game.

This year, the team defense has improved so much that Tampa Bay stands sixth best in the league, giving up only 27.8 shots per game.

Despite all the good news, Tampa Bay has given up three more goals than it's scored. The Lightning stands second in the Southeast Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. It started the season on a 5-0 run but has only managed three points in six games in November. Its only win was a 4-0 shutout of Toronto.

The improved Southeast division has all the teams but Washington hovering around .500, just behind the flickering Lightning.

Offseason acquisition Simon Gagne started slowly, playing six games and getting no points. The offensively talented veteran has been suffering neck and head issues that have been effecting his vision and balance.

Doctors have said it's unlikely to be concussion related, but they have not said what the problem is. Gagne has missed ten games and counting, and wasn't a factor when he played.

Thumper Steve Downie has missed a couple of games due to a back injury. Veteran Mattias Ohlund is seeing limited ice time with his sore knee, though Tampa Bay obviously has the depth on defense now to work through his injury.

Now team captain and third-leading scorer Vincent Lecavalier is out, getting his fractured hand operated on. He will obviously miss Tampa Bay's home game tonight versus the Minnesota Wild. He's expected to be out three or four weeks recovering from the operation.  

Tampa Bay is already seven points behind the division-leading Washington Capitals. Losing Lecavalier for the rest of November and the first half of December is certainly not going to help the offense. Ten of the team's next 15 games will be on the road.

The Lightning need to round the wagons defensively. It looks like it'll be best served by running with Dan Ellis in nets for the next three weeks. If it can keep close to the playoff spot it currently holds until December, the picture begins to look rosier for Tampa Bay.

Lecavalier is expected back then and the team starts playing more home games in the middle of December. The Lightning could be a playoff team if it manages to keep close until then.

If the injury and the long road trip prove to be too much for it, look for the Lightning to sink down past their division rivals. They've all been playing very competitive hockey this year and are hungry to make the playoffs as well.

This Lecavalier injury, and how the Lightning weather it, could be pivotal for Tampa Bay's success this year.