"Their chances have diminished" - JP Peterson thinks Tampa Bay Lightning can't win the Stanley Cup (Exclusive)

The Tampa Bay Lightning currently hold the third position in the Atlantic Division, even after struggling for the last six games.

Their recent win against the Philadelphia Flyers wasn't sufficient to eradicate the doubts that have clouded fans and many experts.

Former back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Lightning had a difficult weekend as they lost both games and looked lethargic. They suffered an ignominious 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes after losing 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabers on Saturday.

Prior to their win against the Flyers, they had lost five in a row.

Although Tampa Bay have been in good shape since the start of the 2022-23 NHL season, their recent poor performances have overshadowed their campaign.

According to NHL Insider JP Peterson, the losing run is a sign of more than just bad play. It raises some serious questions regarding whether they'd be able to qualify for the playoffs or not.

During "The JP Peterson Show," Peterson talked about the Stanley Cup prospects for the Lightning from this point forward, saying:

"Their chances have diminished."

He wasn't impressed with their form either:

"They went to Carolina and got their a** kicked. They didn't have a shot in the second period. They were just awful and they couldn't even get the puck. ... Last night they beat the Flyers who are not good."

He discussed their competition, praising the New York Rangers for acquiring Patrick Kane. Likewise, he also praised the Toronto Maple Leafs for their recent efforts, despite Ryan O'Reilly being injured:

"When you look at what the Rangers have done adding Kane and look at what Toronto has done and even though Ryan O'Reilly is hurt, now these other teams have added some really really nice pieces."

What's working for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season?

Tampa Bay Lightning v Carolina Hurricanes

Killorn scored his 18th goal of the season, continuing his streak of reliable scoring for Tampa Bay. The Bolts' native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, has at least 15 goals in seven straight seasons.

Kucherov is still on fire at AMALIE Arena. It is the longest home-point streak in Lightning franchise history and among all NHL skaters, 22 games this season thanks to his assists.

Since November 25, Kucherov has accumulated 39 points in 22 games at home, including seven goals and 32 assists.

John Cooper, the head coach, has made a number of attempts to change the momentum. It will be interesting to see if his efforts pay off.

They are not in terrible shape going forward and with everything to play for, perhaps a few wins will change the narrative.