Critical chunk of schedule starts now for Lightning

We should have a clearer idea of whether the Tampa Bay Lightning will live up to expectation this season in, oh, 10 days.

The Lightning, seated seventh in the wild-card race in the Eastern Conference with 44 points from as many starts, are in California to begin a critical six-game road trip Monday afternoon against the Los Angeles Kings.

They'll meet the Anaheim Ducks on a back-to-back Tuesday before completing the California gauntlet Thursday versus the San Jose Sharks. From there, the Lightning travel to Arizona and Chicago before making a pit stop in Sunrise on the way home, closing out the road trip versus the Panthers, who are up four points on their in-state rivals.

The Lightning failed to take advantage of five home dates in the first six games of the new year, winning once as they officially crossed the halfway point on the season.

They've felt the absence of befallen sniper Steven Stamkos, collecting 10 wins from 27 games, but keeping pucks out of their own net has been the greatest concern to this point. Tampa Bay's 130 goals allowed - nearly three a game - is sixth-worst in the NHL.