Sam Hitchcock: Lightning Beat Bruins in Best Performance of Season

Really looking forward to the game against the Capitals after yesterday's performance

This is what I want to see more of.

I don't even mind the team losing if they continue playing this relentless style. The effort is there.

Good game. The Bolts caught the Bruins at a good time when they were slumping. Still, I was a little worried about the outcome until I saw how dialed in everyone seemed to be.

Now, let's see how the Washington game goes - the Caps are not slumping.

Good game. The Bolts caught the Bruins at a good time when they were slumping. Still, I was a little worried about the outcome until I saw how dialed in everyone seemed to be.

Now, let's see how the Washington game goes - the Caps are not slumping.
- GalacticStone

Agreed, always well said. Boston looked tired. Caps a great test.

So, who does Tom Wilson beat up tonight?

Will it be Maroon, Paquette, or Schenn (if Schenn is dressed) ?

Maroon is a big guy and isn't afraid to fight, but he's not in Wilson's league when it comes to throwing punches.

Paquette would get killed.

Schenn could probably hang and fight him to a draw, maybe. But I bet Cooper dresses Rutta instead.

So, who does Tom Wilson beat up tonight?

Will it be Maroon, Paquette, or Schenn (if Schenn is dressed) ?

Maroon is a big guy and isn't afraid to fight, but he's not in Wilson's league when it comes to throwing punches.

Paquette would get killed.

Schenn could probably hang and fight him to a draw, maybe. But I bet Cooper dresses Rutta instead.
- GalacticStone

At the game last night. Sergachev trade, although Drouin is hurt, has really evened out. Drouin was finally playing like he was expected to. Sergachev is a give away machine/power play specialist.

Love Cirelli but he’s a number 3 centre/pk guy. Bolts have Point as #1 centre but are missing a real number 2 centre as Stammer is a winger.

Defense is brutal. Mcdonagh had that stretch last year in regular season but he was terrible in playoffs 2 years in a row. He couldn’t pick up the slack with Hedman hurt in playoffs. Ruuta n Schenn shouldn’t be playing on a so called powerhouse.

At the game last night. Sergachev trade, although Drouin is hurt, has really evened out. Drouin was finally playing like he was expected to. Sergachev is a give away machine/power play specialist.

Love Cirelli but he’s a number 3 centre/pk guy. Bolts have Point as #1 centre but are missing a real number 2 centre as Stammer is a winger.

Defense is brutal. Mcdonagh had that stretch last year in regular season but he was terrible in playoffs 2 years in a row. He couldn’t pick up the slack with Hedman hurt in playoffs. Ruuta n Schenn shouldn’t be playing on a so called powerhouse.
- leafluver27

Agree with all of that.

Sergachev is still rounding out his game and coming into his own. I'll get worried if he doesn't start tightening up defensively next season. Defensemen usually take longer to develop, even after they hit the big league. Give him this year and next, then we'll know exactly what we have, and hopefully we aren't paying too much for it by then.

McDonagh has been invisible at best. Sometimes I notice him making a strong defensive play, shot block, or zone exit pass, but he isn't SOLID enough to make up for a lack of offensive production. If he is going to be a stay at home type, then he needs to be consistently very good at it. So far, he seems average at best.

Schenn should have been dressed as 7th d-man against the Caps. You sic him on Tom Wilson the entire game. See if Wilson can be goaded into sitting 10+ minutes in the box over the course of the game, or hopefully get ejected. You aren't losing anything by having Schenn sit in the box, so it's a good trade off. Without their Probert/McCarty on the ice, the Caps can be pushed around more. If Cooper and Briesbois insist on having Schenn around, then use him strategically to take better opposing players off the ice for extended stretches.

Coburn being hurt has exposed how weak Schenn and Rutta are (and Sergachev to some degree).

Love Cirelli. Total success with that kid. He's a bright point in this cloudy season.

Agree with all of that.

Sergachev is still rounding out his game and coming into his own. I'll get worried if he doesn't start tightening up defensively next season. Defensemen usually take longer to develop, even after they hit the big league. Give him this year and next, then we'll know exactly what we have, and hopefully we aren't paying too much for it by then.

McDonagh has been invisible at best. Sometimes I notice him making a strong defensive play, shot block, or zone exit pass, but he isn't SOLID enough to make up for a lack of offensive production. If he is going to be a stay at home type, then he needs to be consistently very good at it. So far, he seems average at best.

Schenn should have been dressed as 7th d-man against the Caps. You sic him on Tom Wilson the entire game. See if Wilson can be goaded into sitting 10+ minutes in the box over the course of the game, or hopefully get ejected. You aren't losing anything by having Schenn sit in the box, so it's a good trade off. Without their Probert/McCarty on the ice, the Caps can be pushed around more. If Cooper and Briesbois insist on having Schenn around, then use him strategically to take better opposing players off the ice for extended stretches.

Coburn being hurt has exposed how weak Schenn and Rutta are (and Sergachev to some degree).

Love Cirelli. Total success with that kid. He's a bright point in this cloudy season.
- GalacticStone

I think a lot of Cirelli as well. I just don’t see him as a number 2. I see him as number 3 who moves up the lineup when there’s need. Plays d well. Kills pk well.

Mcdonagh has just been such a disappointment. Great teams have injuries and others step up. He didn’t in playoffs last year. He’s, as you say, been invisible but not in a way a great defensive dman usually is. He’s slow. A shell of himself.

Usually it takes dmen 250 games to prove their worth so I will give Sergechev more time, like into next season. He just seems to be a pp specialist as he has so many brain cramps. Not everyone is Cale Makar in their first year. Sergachev is 6 months or so older. I just don’t see the dman IQ. Foote is nowhere near ready. But I am looking forward to watching his brother play for team Canada in the jr tournament in a few weeks.