Sam Hitchcock: Same Strategy Produces Different Outcomes

I'm officially nervous for the playoffs.

Either these guys are checked out of the regular season (possible) or have forgotten what it takes to win at a high level - hard work and attention to detail.


Now, that isn't across the board- guys like Point are still giving their all, and Kuch/Stammer show glimpses of absolute dominance... but this team needs to shake their collective head.

This is possibly the first time I'm a little wary about Cooper. Not calling for his head, but certainly raising an eyebrow with the way we responded to that Ottawa dumpster fire into the game with the Bruins.

For a team that boasts a lot of veteran leadership, the Bolts have a lot of "scramble moments."

Boston played the most structured game I've seen all season. Nothing fancy, they kept the bolts to the outside and away from the slot/net and everyone had their job and their role and they executed.

Lightning either
A. Have a structure and the players aren't grasping it
B. Coaching staff hasn't been clear what needs to be done
C. Don't have the talent to successfully execute

Obviously I don't think it's C. I'm leaning toward A because against Edmonton we seemed more disciplined. However, their seems to be a lot of improvising out there and it leads to forwards not getting back and a lot of odd man rushes.

10 more games to get this worked out!

Sam Hitchcock: Same Strategy Produces Different Outcomes
- Sam Hitchcock

Odd to say but hear me out. The Bolts have too much talent, they don't have those grinders who understand what it takes to bear down and win a game. They have playmakers, they have skill, they have speed and with that comes creativity and mistakes. They can't not play the Stammer/Kuch line and you can't ask Kucherov to become Callahan in the D zone getting in front of shots. Same goes for the second line, what makes them amazing is also what hurts them because they want to skate and create but some games, like the Bruins, that won't work.

They just will need to play with more urgency in the playoffs, which I believe they will. When you're basically in the playoffs you, without admitting it, take your foot off of the gas a very little. Lets go into the playoffs healthy and then get to work. If I am Coop I sit Hedman for a game or two at the end of the season now that you've clinched. I also play both backup goalies more and give Vasey more time off.

Odd to say but hear me out. The Bolts have too much talent, they don't have those grinders who understand what it takes to bear down and win a game. They have playmakers, they have skill, they have speed and with that comes creativity and mistakes. They can't not play the Stammer/Kuch line and you can't ask Kucherov to become Callahan in the D zone getting in front of shots. Same goes for the second line, what makes them amazing is also what hurts them because they want to skate and create but some games, like the Bruins, that won't work.

They just will need to play with more urgency in the playoffs, which I believe they will. When you're basically in the playoffs you, without admitting it, take your foot off of the gas a very little. Lets go into the playoffs healthy and then get to work. If I am Coop I sit Hedman for a game or two at the end of the season now that you've clinched. I also play both backup goalies more and give Vasey more time off.
- Kucherovski

Another fantastic take on the tampa bay lightning.

Odd to say but hear me out. The Bolts have too much talent, they don't have those grinders who understand what it takes to bear down and win a game. They have playmakers, they have skill, they have speed and with that comes creativity and mistakes. They can't not play the Stammer/Kuch line and you can't ask Kucherov to become Callahan in the D zone getting in front of shots. Same goes for the second line, what makes them amazing is also what hurts them because they want to skate and create but some games, like the Bruins, that won't work.

They just will need to play with more urgency in the playoffs, which I believe they will. When you're basically in the playoffs you, without admitting it, take your foot off of the gas a very little. Lets go into the playoffs healthy and then get to work. If I am Coop I sit Hedman for a game or two at the end of the season now that you've clinched. I also play both backup goalies more and give Vasey more time off.
- Kucherovski

Another fantastic take on the tampa bay lightning.
- Cloud

MOAR GRITZS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another fantastic take on the tampa bay lightning.
- Cloud

What was wrong with it? Make sure you give me all the facts you have since you know all

MOAR GRITZS!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Feds91Stammer

Kucherovski could actually be Pierre McGuirre

Kucherovski could actually be Pierre McGuirre
- Cloud

Again you're saying nothing of substance. Why do you think Yzerman wanted Miller involved in the trade? We needed a D man, we got a D man but why do you think he put more in to add Miller as well? Needed a guy with that type of game in our lineup

What was wrong with it? Make sure you give me all the facts you have since you know all
- Kucherovski

If you have to ask. You can't afford it.

If you have to ask. You can't afford it.
- Feds91Stammer

Makes sense, totally. How about if you don't have anything to add, which you rarely do except to try and be a big man(woman) and insult people, then don't bother. You rarely add anything to any discussion except to try and show your overly inflated ego.

Makes sense, totally. How about if you don't have anything to add, which you rarely do except to try and be a big man(woman) and insult people, then don't bother. You rarely add anything to any discussion except to try and show your overly inflated ego.
- Kucherovski

Can you show me on the doll where I insulted you?

I think most of the NHL has turned to put more emphasis on skill and less on grit. Yes you want your players to have some sort of grit, but I believe the thinking is skill will beat grit more often than not. I do agree that Vasi needs a few games off to regroup and get refreshed. He looks exhausted out there.

Can you show me on the doll where I insulted you?
- Feds91Stammer

When did I say you just did it? Sensitive? Ok feel free to add to, what should have been, a reasonable discussion any time you want. You have forgotten more about hockey than probably everyone else here knows so we look forward to your wisdom.

I think most of the NHL has turned to put more emphasis on skill and less on grit. Yes you want your players to have some sort of grit, but I believe the thinking is skill will beat grit more often than not. I do agree that Vasi needs a few games off to regroup and get refreshed. He looks exhausted out there.
- TBolts4

I agree totally and not sure if I said grit or not but I go back to what Cooper kept saying about Miller and other guys on the Lightning, he plays "heavy". The Bruins did that against us, they played hard and played heavy which is what you need to shut down a game. Miller was a needed element to our team and when Palat comes back that will only help that aspect.

I agree totally and not sure if I said grit or not but I go back to what Cooper kept saying about Miller and other guys on the Lightning, he plays "heavy". The Bruins did that against us, they played hard and played heavy which is what you need to shut down a game. Miller was a needed element to our team and when Palat comes back that will only help that aspect.
- Kucherovski

I believe the return of Palat changes this team dramatically. He's a lot more important to this team than people think, even if he doesnt score 50 goals.

When did I say you just did it? Sensitive? Ok feel free to add to, what should have been, a reasonable discussion any time you want. You have forgotten more about hockey than probably everyone else here knows so we look forward to your wisdom.
- Kucherovski

BRB working on an HTML code that allows HB users to view random bolts gifs instead of your posts.

I believe the return of Palat changes this team dramatically. He's a lot more important to this team than people think, even if he doesnt score 50 goals.
- TBolts4

Completely agree....where do you slot him in for the playoffs?

Miller/Stammer/Kuch
Palat/Johnson/Point
Killorn/Gourde/Cally
Kunitz/Paquette/Erne

Or do you drop Palat down to the 3rd line?

I think part of it (the "slump") was more about cockiness and getting a bit lazy on the defensive side. These can be fixed with good coaching.

Teams have obviously figured out the Bolts - the teams like Boston that have the required talent, can shut down the Lightning. The teams with less depth (Edmonton) still have problems. Unfortunately, the Lightning's path to the Cup likely runs through Boston at some point. And I certainly do not want to see a repeat of 2011.

Completely agree....where do you slot him in for the playoffs?

Miller/Stammer/Kuch
Palat/Johnson/Point
Killorn/Gourde/Cally
Kunitz/Paquette/Erne

Or do you drop Palat down to the 3rd line?
- Kucherovski

I like:

Miller/Stammer/Kuch
Killorn/Point/Gourde
Palat/Johnson/Erne
Kunitz/Paquette/Cally

Odd to say but hear me out. The Bolts have too much talent, they don't have those grinders who understand what it takes to bear down and win a game. They have playmakers, they have skill, they have speed and with that comes creativity and mistakes. They can't not play the Stammer/Kuch line and you can't ask Kucherov to become Callahan in the D zone getting in front of shots. Same goes for the second line, what makes them amazing is also what hurts them because they want to skate and create but some games, like the Bruins, that won't work.

They just will need to play with more urgency in the playoffs, which I believe they will. When you're basically in the playoffs you, without admitting it, take your foot off of the gas a very little. Lets go into the playoffs healthy and then get to work. If I am Coop I sit Hedman for a game or two at the end of the season now that you've clinched. I also play both backup goalies more and give Vasey more time off.
- Kucherovski

What the (frank) is this garbage.

when the lightning don't use their speed they are extremely average.. especially on the forecheck

if you are trying to make plays at a slow speed they are not going to work, easily readable, passes are easily intercepted, they are not built to play a slow game, and not that they're slow, they just need to skate more.

the lightning forwards also are so excited to leave their own end that when the chip does not make it past the blue line it is now an odd man rush or a broken play against the lightning that leads to them being hemmed for a long time as they are outnumbered until the F make it back which opens up lanes as well as space for the other teams which leads to posession.

for me, it's all about speed with this team, and outskating the other team in their own end. what they do with the puck will take care of itself, if they are using their motors like they can. they are extremely talented

i was watching a VGK game, and the 3 forwards were all curling to leave their zone as the D had the puck on his stick at the faceoff dot in their own end. he tried to chip it off the glass around a forechecker to the flying forwards, but the forechecker stopped it and as soon as he stopped it all 3 VGK forwards immediately slammed on the brakes and skated back into their own end, clogging up every possible lane with their sticks until they got back deep enough to smuther the pressure and regain control.

i've never seen the lightning forwards do this, its always big curls or only 1 of them hustles hard back while they others just think its ok as long as the D are covered but in these situations you need to let go of the D to defend the bigger threat and get back ASAP.

anyways, i was impressed by the VGK when i saw this. this is what it takes every game and every time it happens to win

i was watching a VGK game, and the 3 forwards were all curling to leave their zone as the D had the puck on his stick at the faceoff dot in their own end. he tried to chip it off the glass around a forechecker to the flying forwards, but the forechecker stopped it and as soon as he stopped it all 3 VGK forwards immediately slammed on the brakes and skated back into their own end, clogging up every possible lane with their sticks until they got back deep enough to smuther the pressure and regain control.

i've never seen the lightning forwards do this, its always big curls or only 1 of them hustles hard back while they others just think its ok as long as the D are covered but in these situations you need to let go of the D to defend the bigger threat and get back ASAP.

anyways, i was impressed by the VGK when i saw this. this is what it takes every game and every time it happens to win
- RileyB77

I agree, when Vegas was here (only Vegas game I've watched) they looked very disciplined and solid defensively. They did not give up many odd man rushes, if any that night. Now we don't need to play that way but we do need the forwards to help more than they have been lately, that and Dotchin needs to keep watching from afar.