Extended road trips are something the Tampa Bay Lightning have been fortunate to have little experience with so far this season, only embarking on one in the month of October.
However, the Bolts will be headed to the wonderful state of California for their second three-game road trip of the year this week.
Traveling across the country to play is always challenging, especially when you are entering into hostile environments of teams that can certainly give you a run for your money. All three California franchises (Sharks, Kings, and Ducks) will look to bring their A-games against the NHL's top team, proving that there are squads ready to take down the Bolts in the Western Conference should they meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Tampa Bay will begin their road trip in San Jose on Wednesday against the Sharks. The following night, Thursday, they will make their way to Los Angeles to face off against the Kings who have been quite successful early on.
I am predicting that the Bolts will get their way against the Sharks and walk out of the SAP Center with two points. However, playing in back-to-back games will prove to be too difficult when they play the top team in the Pacific Division the following night. Tampa Bay will eventually beat the Kings when they play at AMALIE Arena later in the year but this particular contest will go to Los Angeles.
The Lightning will then finish up their three-game California trip at the Honda Center on Sunday, playing the Ducks for the second time already. Anaheim had the upper-hand in Tampa Bay and I believe the exact opposite will happen in Anaheim.
If you've got what it takes to stay up past midnight in the middle of the week, these should all be entertaining contests. Look for the Bolts to snatch at least two wins on this trip and come back home to Tampa Bay still at the top of the league.