Can Lightning become NHL’s first wild card to win a Stanley Cup?

Orlando Sentinel

Lean Left

High Factuality

Private Equity: Alden Global Capital

Can Lightning become NHL’s first wild card to win a Stanley Cup?

TAMPA — As the Lightning embark on their latest playoff run, in a temperature-controlled arena in sunny south Florida, weather will nonetheless be a factor. This time around, they’re skating smack into the headwinds of history. Not that they’re fazed. Since the NHL introduced two wild-card teams into its refurbished playoff format a decade ago (excluding 2020 and ’21, when the postseason format was altered due to COVID-19), no wild card ever has…