Every team suffers injuries at some point in the season. The most successful teams are the ones that can plug the holes caused by injuries with at least replacement-level performance. Should they get above-replacement level performances, even better. For at least one night, the players inserted or bumped up in the lineup for the Tampa Bay Lightning came through.
Gemel Smith, Tyler Johnson, and Mathieu Joseph all contributed to the Lightning’s blow-out win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. No one is expecting them to perform at Steven Stamkos or Anthony Cirelli-level long term, or even what they did on Saturday.