The season has changed. The series has changed.
The problem for the Detroit Red Wings remains the same.
How do they contain Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson?
A year ago, when the Lightning dispatched the Wings in a tight seven-game Stanley Cup opening-round playoff series, Johnson was the difference maker. He scored six times in the seven games but when he scored was equally as vital.
In Game 4, with the Lightning down 2-1 in the series and 2-0 with six minutes to go in the game, Johnson scored, and then set up Ondrej Palat for the tying goal.
Just 2:25 into overtime, he scored the winner to complete Tampa Bay’s 3-2 rally.
Likewise in Game 6, with the Lightning trailing 3-2 in the set and facing elimination, Johnson scored twice to spark Tampa Bay to a 5-2 triumph.
This spring, he didn’t wait to be a thorn in Detroit’s side. In Wednesday’s series opener, the Lightning forward line of Johnson with Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov tallied all of Tampa Bay’s goals in a 3-2 victory, Johnson setting up two of them, including Killorn’s third-period game winner.
“We need to make sure we not allow them rush chances, one,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said of his plan to slow down the Johnson line. “I would say the first one (by Kucherov) was a real rush chance. “They’re great in open ice. They can make plays in small areas. So we’ve got to make sure we do the best that we can of taking away time and space.…
From Detroit’s point of view, the Wings feel there are things they can do better on the defensive side of the puck to help neutralize Johnson’s dominance.
“They got a few opportunities where we either turned over the puck or we didn't have a good F-3,… Detroit forward Darren Helm said. “I think if we do a little better job with our high forward, make sure we play in their end a little more, obviously that takes them out of the game a little bit.
“They're three guys that will capitalize on chances. We’ve got to find ways to limit that and one of the ways is play in their zone, making sure we have guys back where we need them.…
Blashill also didn’t like how easily Killorn was able to gain access to the edge of Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard’s crease to tip home Johnson’s cross-ice pass for the winning goal.
“We’ve got to make sure our defensive positioning is a little better than it was,… Blashill said. “We’ve got to make it harder to get to our net.…
Strained Friendship? Late in Game 1, former Wing Valtteri Filppula took a slash at the arm of Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg and that led to some bad blood between the two, who are close friends.
“Well, a lot of stuff happened in the end, so I’m not really sure what was said but we’ll see,… Zetterberg said, insisting his hand was OK and wanting to discuss little else about the episode between old teammates.
“What happens out there stays out there,… Zetterberg said.
And is Filppula’s invitation to dine with the Zetterbergs whenever he’s in Detroit still open?
“Well, we’ll see,… Zetterberg said.
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