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Lightning vows to overcome injury losses again

 
From left, defenseman Braydon Coburn and forwards Ondrej Palat and Cedric Paquette, all key players, are out for varying amounts of time after being injured against the Canadiens on Tuesday.
From left, defenseman Braydon Coburn and forwards Ondrej Palat and Cedric Paquette, all key players, are out for varying amounts of time after being injured against the Canadiens on Tuesday.
Published March 15, 2015

TAMPA

There's no sugarcoating this one.

That the Lightning has lost veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn for four to six weeks, Ondrej Palat for two to three weeks and Cedric Paquette for 10 to 14 days with injuries is a big blow.

But it's not insurmountable.

"We'll be okay," coach Jon Cooper said. "This is just a speed bump."

Sure, it's bad timing, especially with the Lightning jostling for playoff position and the postseason a month away. But barring a major collapse, the Lightning will be in the postseason. Finishing in the top spot in the Eastern Conference might be more difficult. And home-ice advantage in the first round isn't a given, but that often doesn't matter as much in the playoffs (just ask the Lightning).

Coburn, Palat and Paquette — all key players — are expected to be back by the time the first round starts. And though the trio isn't easy to replace, the Lightning has shown it can weather the storm after big injuries.

It finished second in the Eastern Conference last season after losing its best player, captain Steven Stamkos, for 45 games with a broken leg. Tampa Bay held its own without top defenseman Victor Hedman for six weeks this season. Thursday, the Lightning's first game without the trio, Tampa Bay nearly beat the Bruins in Boston, falling 3-2 in a shootout.

"Good teams find a way to win when guys are out," veteran wing Ryan Callahan said.

The Lightning is not only good, it's deep, especially up front, where it can roll four lines that can score. That depth will be tested now more than ever.

Palat likely will be missed the most. His 200-foot game is underrated, and he's a key cog on the team's best line with Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. But rookie Vladislav Namestnikov stepped in on that line Thursday and scored the tying goal in the third.

Mike Angelidis, 29, the AHL Syracuse captain, can bring the type of relentless energy and grit Paquette provides. And with veteran defenseman Matt Carle coming back from abdominal surgery, the top-four defensive parings will be strong, with Hedman, Stralman, Jason Garrison.

You've got to feel for Coburn, who fit in perfectly since coming over at the trade deadline. He previously broke a foot twice this season. The guy is due some good luck at some point, maybe it'll be during the playoffs. But remember, the Lightning didn't have Coburn for most of this season and was doing fine. It will be that much better when Coburn is back when he's really needed, in the playoffs.

You see, the Lightning isn't worried about being the top seed. It learned a lesson from last season's first-round playoff sweep by the Canadiens. It's focused on being at the top of its game when the postseason begins.

"We have that confidence that no matter what situation you're in, your team is going to find a way to win," Stamkos said. "We're starting to feel that. It takes awhile before you can build that up throughout the season. That's what championship teams do, they play well down the stretch and have confidence heading into the playoffs."

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And by then — Tampa Bay hopes — it will be at full strength.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.