The Tampa Bay Lightning have eliminated the regular season's best team, the Boston Bruins, from the NHL playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals. And, despite having a hefty amount of star power, the Lightning have been getting a major boost from role players. The Athletic’s Joe Smith explains how some of the team's recent signings have helped transform the perennial underachievers into Stanley Cup contenders and shifted the team's personality along the way.

More from Joe Smith:

https://theathletic.com/author/joe-smith/?source=theleadpodcast

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