PITTSBURGH -- The Tampa Bay Lightning are feeling the pressure of the playoff chase.
Going into back-to-back road games Friday at Pittsburgh and Saturday at Buffalo, the Lightning (29-25-8) are outside the postseason picture despite having won four of their past five games.
The team was widely considered to be a Stanley Cup contender entering this season, but injuries and a couple tough stretches have it on the outside looking in. It got a jolt when goaltender Ben Bishop and centers Brian Boyle and Valtteri Filppula were dealt in advance of Wednesday's NHL trade deadline -- "It's hard to lose great teammates and friends," Tampa Bay's Ondrej Palat said -- and hopes that serves as a sort of dose of smelling salts.