Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Stamkos, Lightning in Toronto for Visit with Struggling Maple Leafs

November 20, 2014, 11:59 AM ET [112 Comments]
Michael Stuart
Ottawa Senators Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Set to play their third game in four nights, the Tampa Bay Lightning are in Toronto for a tilt with the struggling Maple Leafs. The Bolts are aiming to rebound from a disappointing 5-2 defeat on Long Island before heading home.

This is the first of four meetings this season between the Maple Leafs and Lightning; the Atlantic Division foes split the season series last year.

While the Lightning will likely be tired tonight with this being their third in four, they couldn’t ask for a friendlier situation. The Leafs are in shambles. They’ve been outscored in their last two games by a combined score of 15-4, and the media pressure in Toronto is starting to build. The Bolts are looking at a very fragile opponent.

I’ve maintained for a long time that Toronto’s roster really isn’t that bad. In fact, the opposite is true. It’s quite good. The trouble for the Leafs is that they have a coach who runs an ineffective (read: downright abysmal) system.


The trend is undeniable. Carlyle’s teams struggle. On an individual level, the same story rings true.


Toronto would likely be better served with a new coach at the helm. Would they be a contender? I'm not sure about that. Would they be a playoff team? I would almost guarantee it.

On the other side of things, Tampa’s Jon Cooper has done a marvelous job of getting his team to play a puck possession game. The results speak for themselves, as the Bolts sit right up near the top of the NHL standings. Even when they haven’t been at their best, the Lightning have found a way to steal wins and collect points. That’s going to mean something come April.

Prior to puck drop, Cooper will have to make a few lineup decisions. With Brett Connolly now healthy and apparently ready to go, there will be multiple scratches. Reason would suggest that Cedric Paquette will be one of them, as he was injured in the team’s last game. If the morning skate lines, courtesy of Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, are any indication, it looks like J.T. Brown could be the other.

Valtteri Filppula-Steven Stamkos-Ryan Callahan
Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Nikita Kucherov
Jonathan Drouin-Vladislav Namestnikov-Alex Killorn
Brenden Morrow-Brian Boyle-Brett Connolly

Regardless of who slots in and who sits out for Tampa, the Leafs’s defense has a tall task in front of it. The Lightning will have three players (!) playing at at least a point-per-game pace this year in the lineup tonight. Ryan Callahan, Steven Stamkos, and Tyler Johnson have really helped to stir the drink in 2014-15.

I’m hesitant to call this a ‘should win’ game for the Lightning, because Toronto goalie Jonathan Bernier has the ability to win games on his own. In addition, Phil Kessel is one of the game's purest offensive threats, as evidenced by his 11 goals this year. With all that being said, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the Lightning are generally better than the Leafs. That’s not posturing. That’s reality. Tampa has a good chance to grab a ‘W’ tonight and add two points to their column in the standings.

As always, thanks for reading.

Michael Stuart has been the Tampa Bay Lightning writer for HockeyBuzz since 2012. Visit his archive to read more or follow him on Twitter.
Join the Discussion: » 112 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Michael Stuart
» Brown, Paul Combine for Canada's Golden Goal at World Championship
» Senators to Select 10th Overall; What Should They Do with the Pick?
» Finding the Right Centerpiece
» Senators Team Awards Ballot
» Melnyk Speaks