So, the best I can figure, the Lightning, even in its Cup season, never won 12 games in a 14-game stretch which is just what this bunch can do Friday in New York.

The interesting thing will be to see what general manager Jay Feaster will do at the trade deadline. If he's serious about getting a puck-moving defenseman who also has some grit, he better get in line. Making it more difficult is that there are very few teams ready to sell. The shootout has put everybody into the playoff race, so many teams are looking to buy.

I'll get into some names that seem practical to acquire in a day or so.

But remember what happened last season? Feaster decided to stand pat. Would that bother you if it happened again this season? Do you want him to get a rental that would not impact next season's cap? Or a player who is relatively cheap and can be added to next season's roster that will be squeezed by the payroll cut?

Tough calls all, mostly because a bigger name will require a bigger return to the team doing the selling, and Tampa Bay just doesn't seem that deep.