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

Bolts Lose Stamkos But Win Anyway

November 22, 2019, 12:00 PM ET [5 Comments]
Sam Hitchcock
Tampa Bay Lightning Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
When the media conducted a post-mortem after the Lightning’s shocking first-round playoff exit last spring, lack of previous adversity was one of the factors attributed to the team’s collapse. The reasoning was that the Lightning coasted through the regular season and had relatively few injuries; therefore, since their resilience was never tested, it cratered at the first sign of trouble.

As of November 22nd, Tampa Bay has gotten off to a middling start, so the optics are different. Against St. Louis on Tuesday, Brayden Schenn demolished Nikita Kucherov, leaving the Hart Trophy winner woozy and absent Thursday night. Last night, Steven Stamkos mysteriously receded into the background and never left the bench after playing the first period. No Kucherov dressed and no Stamkos for two periods? It didn’t end up mattering. The Lightning won 4-2 and, at least in a small dose, they are facing the adversity of injuries and high expectations. Oh, and they are also working on the identity transformation that became necessary once every team saw the blueprint for how to defend against them.

Two details really jumped out from last night’s game.

Mikhail Sergachev
Fifteen-to-twenty years ago, when I was a young person, I remember watching something called the And1 Mixtape Tour. It was a basketball exhibition where players attempted the flashiest moves and tried to fake the defender out so badly that he looked foolish.

I thought of that ankle-breaking athleticism last night when Sergachev pulled his trademark move on Blackhawks forward Alexander Nylander and actually caused Nylander to fall down. Sergachev can frustrate, but his skill set is undeniable, and against the Blackhawks he thrived. He scored on the power play with a laser during the first period.



Sergachev finished with a +5 in controlling shot attempts at 5v5. He finished with 2 Scoring Chances at 5v5, more than any other defenseman on either squad. But he was good in his own end too. He was connecting on passes and keeping a tight gap in defensive coverage. Sergachev deserves plaudits for a sterling performance.

Secondary Scoring
As high-octane as the Bolts’ offense was last year, it was heavily concentrated in three players: Kucherov, Stamkos, and Brayden Point. When Columbus suffocated the Tampa Bay rush and those three couldn’t forecheck, the offense imploded. And lack of discipline accelerated the Lightning’s demise.

One exciting development this season is how well the supporting cast is playing. Anthony Cirelli tied for first with Pat Maroon with six shot attempts and four Scoring Chances. After a slow start to the season, Cirelli is heating up, and he has goals in three straight games. At his best, Cirelli is tireless in puck battles, and he has also been slipping into fissures in the defense to spring odd-man rush chances. Last night, he nearly pitchforked home a rebound opportunity, but smacked the shot off the post. The amount of pressure he is applying with Alex Killorn makes the Lightning third line a force to reckon with, and with Mathieu Joseph, the trio finished best among the Lightning in controlling shot attempts and scoring chances.

Ondrej Palat also deserves praise as he is another ancillary piece who is leaving a large footprint. His power move in the neutral zone and patience on the perimeter allowed him to slip a beautiful pass through the low slot to Point, who tapped the puck into an open net.



Palat was around the puck all night, never afraid to crank a shot on net or jump into a passing lane and try to force a turnover. The Palat line didn’t have the same efficacy on the forecheck as the third and fourth line, but they passed well on the rush and showed speed when retrieving the puck. Variety of attack is important, and Palat maximizing his ability as a power forward while Cirelli excels as an indefatigable two-way center gives the Bolts’ needed diversity.

With Kucherov and Stamkos day-to-day, the Lightning aren’t facing paralyzing adversity, but they are being tested. One thing Tampa Bay has not been able to do is sustain winning streaks this season. At this time last year, the Lightning had two three-game winning streaks and one four-game winning streak. This year, the Lightning’s best string of wins is one three-game winning streak, and two of those games were in Sweden. With another game on Saturday against a sputtering Ducks squad, the Lightning are poised to extend their success.
Join the Discussion: » 5 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Sam Hitchcock
» Verhaeghe's Role if Stamkos is Sidelined
» Stamkos's Linemates Should Feed Him in the Crease
» Three Personal Goals for the Grinders
» How COVID Could Test the Bolts' Depth
» What Happens to Cooper If TB Loses