TAMPA - Sometimes rest is a weapon.
Sometimes rest needs to be paramount. Other times, rare opportunities to take advantage of days off to practice take precedent.
Earlier this week, after playing five games in eight days (four of them on the road), the Tampa Bay Lightning had a two-day gap in the schedule before playing the next game (which started three games in four days).
With two new additions to the roster in Nick Paul and Brandon Hagel, the team had only held one full practice since the two were acquired at the trade deadline. The acclimation to the lineup primarily came during games.
T...
