There isn't a team in the East that we should be worried about. If there was one it would be Florida because of Luongo.
That first sentence is absolutely true. Lightning have finally gotten their act together, and while going 18-6-2 (W-L-SO) is a bit hotter than will continue, the net result is we're seeing a team that is finally rolling multiple scoring lines, has a goaltender capable of playing as well as any other currently in the Eastern playoff field (...or at least coming close enough to match that other advantages shine through) and defensive structure is improved as well. I maintain that my biggest fear is Jon Cooper's tactical adaptability come playoff time; I am not above giving him his due credit for the team's play of late, and I am not above giving him credit for showing improved chops in the playoffs, but I'm going to have to see it from him first before I start expecting it.
However, this team is capable of beating anyone in the East field. Certainly, the only team I "fear" is Washington, for reasons I have elaborated before. It's easy to look at Pittsburgh, Boston, or Long Island*, and remember that the Lightning generally haven't played well in those cities over the years, but those are more-so excuses for if they struggle than actual, tangible explanations. With Washington, there are tangible explanations, namely, that being how their PP structure thoroughly annihilates Tampa's PK structure. Tampa Bay outscored Washington 5-4 at even strength with goalies in net in the three head-to-heads, I believe. They lost all three games, because the PPG tally was 6-1 in favor of the Caps. SSS, but they operated around 50%. They've also drilled Tampa's PK in previous seasons as well. There is a reason why the Lightning have only won one of the last 12 meetings against Washington; it's simply a terrible matchup, home or away.
But, barring TB falling down to the second wild card, that matchup is not going to happen until the ECF, giving ample time for either side to be dropped first. Washington was 100 seconds from a five-game series victory against the Rangers last season. Everything that happened from there on, I believe, made TB's trip to the Final a lot more plausible than it otherwise looked like it would have been.
And I'll tell this much as well - Pittsburgh is the one team Washington would least like to face in the first round. Not only because Pittsburgh has always upset Washington in the playoffs in the past (7-1 in eight meetings all-time), because that's ancient history, but because Pittsburgh has been one of the East's best teams since the new year, Sullivan has been a massive upgrade over Johnston, seeing Pittsburgh's forechecking create issues over the past couple months, and mostly because facing Sid and Malkin in the playoffs isn't a fun proposition for anybody. Pittsburgh may have difficulty getting above the wild card spots; at that point, it's simply a matter of which one they get. Because if it's the #1 wild card, and Tampa is a division winner...frankly, much of the same still applies. Tampa can win that matchup but it sure won't be easy or short, realistically speaking.
--
As for the second sentence - Luongo is excellent, and, yes, at times a good goaltender getting white hot at the right (wrong?) time can destroy a superior opponent. That said, we can't really live with that kind of fear, because it's not rational. Truthfully, if TB faces Florida at any point, I'm expecting a five-game series. Florida's where Tampa Bay was two years ago; young, emerging, a threat for a while to come, but not really "there" quite yet. I would be stunned if Florida won a playoff series between the two in 2016.
*
before someone says it, yes, I'm well aware the Isles don't play in Uniondale anymore. Lightning haven't even been to Barclays yet; not for another month, even, when they finish the season in the Tri-State area + Montreal. The general point does remain. Lightning haven't won a game at the Isles, non-SO variety, since November 2010. 
