Tampa BAE Lightning: RD 1 GM 2

The Lightning are back on the ice inside Amalie Arena tonight at 6:30 PM for Game 2 against the Florida Panthers. I really don’t think I’m being dramatic in saying this is a must win situation.

You cannot give up both home games to the defending champs and then expect to win 4 of the next 5—that’s just not happening.

If the Lightning want to right the ship, they’re going to need do a lot of things differently and, hopefully, get a little bit of luck.

So, what needs to change?

• Move the puck faster: The Panthers system relies on them getting the puck back from their opponents by skating into them hard and nailing them with a hit. The Lightning can break this system by having their defensemen get ready for the hit in their own zone and getting the pass out to the forwards quickly. Dumping a pass off to no one simply to avoid a hit is a sure fire way to get scored on.
• Get open and move: If the defense men are going to get beaten up in order to save the possession, then the forwards need to repay the favor by making sure they are open and getting in position to receive the pass. From there, they need to skate like a bat out of hell into the Panthers zone and get ready to shoot or cycle. If you can get set up, do it and keep the puck moving. The Panthers will struggle if the Lightning get set and get cycling. If you can’t get set, get a shot off and someone else needs to crash the net to score a greasy goal. It doesn’t always need to be a one timer for the highlight reel. It just needs to go in.
• Be so much better on the PK: 3 power play goals is absolutely unacceptable. They need to be better here. And this is where our luck needs to come in. The Bolts need Cirelli to play. Hagel and Cirelli on the PK have been a force. They will want that back if they want to have a chance.

It’s a tall task. No doubt. You never want to be chasing the series. But 1-1 going to Sunrise is a hell of a lot better than 2-0. Process over outcome, one shift at a time.

Let’s Go Bolts!

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