from Andrew Knoll of the New Yotk Times,

At the midway point of the N.H.L. season, the Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves in a position that is pleasantly familiar: the top of the league.

Tampa Bay’s 66 points are the most in the N.H.L., as its 61 points were at the same time last season. But the Lightning’s dominance this season is stark. Entering Friday’s games, they are 12 points better than the next-best teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Western Conference-leading Calgary Flames.

In a league where nine teams have a point percentage above .700 in their last 10 games, Tampa Bay (32-7-2) has managed to be the hottest club. The Lightning have earned points in 16 games in a row, with winning streaks of eight and seven games flanking an overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a Western Conference power. The Lightning have not lost in regulation since Nov. 27. They outscored opponents by 81-48 during that span and have a league-leading goal differential of plus-55.

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