Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Déjà Vu All Over Again

Like I said in the prior post this is two straight games with 40 plus shots against and less then 25 for. Sloppy play and without Vasy these would be 6-3 games.

McDonagh and Cernak out are really showing how bad the D depth is right now. I am glad Cooper is not taxing Hedman and Sergachev - both played normal minutes and giving Foote and Rutta more minutes to get better. Borgman and Schenn are horrible.

They have to make a move for a Dman. It will have to be dollar for so so maybe they move Borgman or Schenn plus pick for a Dman with money retained.

But what does it say that the Lightning could have won both these games playing as poorly as they did? Its interesting to say the lease.

Agree with all the points in Mike's blog. It did feel like deja vu. Another winnable game lost due to a leaky defense. Losing McD and Cernak instantly transformed one of the best defenses in the league into a rather ordinary blue line. The difference two starters makes is striking. And what is really bothersome is how thin the depth chart is behind the Lightning's top four.

Rutta is mobile, but that's about it. He's not physical. He doesn't have much offensive upside and he's not reliable. What exactly does he do other than poorly eat minutes? He's like another Cory Cross or Andrei Sustr. Same type of player according to results.

Schenn really shouldn't be a starter except in emergencies. He's a pylon who can fight and he got his ass handed to him in his last fight. The Lightning tend to get hemmed in their own end a good bit when Schenn is on the ice. Jack Johnson's brother from another mother?

Borgman seems like another Rutta. I haven't seen much in his limited time that gives me any confidence.

Foote has acquitted himself quite well, but he's still a rookie. He makes rookie mistakes. His ceiling is obviously much higher than Rutta, Borgman, or Schenn, but until he gains more experience, he's not going to be reliable in a top-4 role.

I think it's time to put Cirelli back with Killorn and Stamkos back with Point until Kucherov comes back.

Also, like Mike said, both of these losses could have been worse if not for Vasi. The team owes him a couple of good shutdown efforts. I'd hate to be the Lightning's next opponent (Blue Jackets).

Everybody please burn a candle tonight for Cernak and McD. LOL.

Vasy is the MVP. No team really has depth. It’s a cap world. Watch a lot of games, work from home. Colorado has some special D and Johnson isn’t even playing he had surgery. Makar, Byram, Girardi, Timmins, Johnson and Toews. All skate, move the puck...4 deep at C...wingers are fast and big. But a goalie that’s like Bishop=🍋

With two of the top D men out it’s bound to happen. That and the ice capades will be stopped when playoff hockey starts. A couple good checks will take care of it very quickly.

Columbus just lost two in a row to Detroit. Torts and his squad will be testy and itching for a win. Two teams on two losing streaks. Something has to give in this next game.

Columbus just lost two in a row to Detroit. Torts and his squad will be testy and itching for a win. Two teams on two losing streaks. Something has to give in this next game.
- GalacticStone

We just lost to Columbus. Lost Rutta tonight. At least Mcdonagh is skating. This nhl schedule with 25 games in 40 some days is horrific. There will be more injuries to come for all teams.