NHL prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning are still the team to beat in 2019-20
The Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t the same team they were last season when they won an NHL record-tying 62 games.
They might be better.
That is the consensus of the Paste BN Sports hockey group. Three of our four writers and editors picked the Lightning to win it all this season. This comes six months after the Lightning were shockingly swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first round of the 2018-19 playoffs.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, backup goalie Curtis McElhinney and gritty role player Pat Maroon were Tampa Bay's key additions in the offseason.
The Vegas Golden Knights received the other vote to win it all.
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With three votes, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is our favorite to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer. He won it two seasons in a row before losing the race to Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov last season.
Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon received two votes to win the Hart Trophy as MVP. The other votes went to Lightning teammates Steven Stamkos and Kucherov, last year's winner.