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Three Takeaways from Lightning's Trouncing of Panthers |
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The preseason is like a riveting movie trailer. It pumps you up to see the show, whetting your appetite with the cool music, splashy colors, and gritty performances, but for the time being you have to make due with snippets. Nevertheless, after the Lightning bludgeoned the Panthers last night, we have a better feel for what is coming.
The Lightning have depth: Mathieu Joseph and Alexander Volkov have demonstrated that they have NHL-level talent and can contribute right away. On Joseph’s first goal, he helped steer the puck out of danger and toward Yanni Gourde after an errant pass was disturbed and the puck was up for grabs. When Joseph whipped around and fired it past Roberto Luongo, it was a nice exclamation point on an offensive-zone opportunity that he himself salvaged. On his second goal, his instincts were right: cut to the net and your linemates will find you. Kudos to Joseph for his poise on the finish.
Anthony Cirelli, who joined the team during the last quarter of the 2017-18 regular season, also made several nice plays. His deflection on the Hedman shot from the point registered a goal, and he slithered past an adversary on a board joust that allowed him to generate a two-on-one. His pass across to Alexander Killorn was perfect, and he dutifully tried to retrieve the puck after the shot attempt was stopped. Lightning broadcaster Brian Engblom mentioned it last night, but Tampa Bay needs speed and scoring prowess from their third and fourth liners. Joseph and Cirelli possess both characteristics.
Victor Hedman looks terrifying: I wrote a piece recently about how Hedman can be better this year and outperform his Norris Trophy winning season. Last night, he dazzled. He almost successfully split Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad when he tore through the neutral zone and offensive zone on a rush. Hedman consistently released the puck quickly, and was rewarded for it on his goal where he exploited the nonexistent weak side coverage. My biggest gripe with him last year was when he would take big windups and the puck would miss the net or the opponent would jump into the shooting lane. Hopefully, this year he is all about speed of delivery.
On the Cirelli goal, the economy in Hedman’s footwork to open up the shooting lane was startling. Hedman is an unbelievable skater with loads of offensive talent, and he should attack every time he’s on the ice. Last night was a very encouraging sign.
A right-handed defenseman possibility: I still maintain the dream, especially now that GM Steve Yzerman stepped down, that the Lightning come to their senses and stop playing Dan Girardi. Girardi is a sunk cost, so they should just cut their losses and stop pretending he will get better.
Erik Cernak pushes my dream closer to reality. Cernak was acquired in the Ben Bishop trade with Los Angeles, and the fact that he was targeted by the Lightning’s excellent scouting department is comforting. Cernak appears to have adequate mobility to retrieve the puck in his own zone and can help the Lightning maintain possession with requisite pinches up the boards. He has a heavy shot, and adds a little size and physicality. I don’t know if he is the solution, but if he soaks up Girardi’s ice time and is less mechanical and ham-fisted than the recently ousted Jake Dotchin, the Lightning will have more offensive-zone time.
Tampa Bay Lightning Blogger • 
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