Stars coach Jim Montgomery had a straightforward game plan: Make sure the Lightning forwards do not have possession and speed as they cross the blue line. To do that, his forwards would repose in the neutral zone to clog it, and act as a sticky, gum-like substance for puck-carriers trying to ferry the puck through or find passing lanes. This was very effective for the most part—with Ondrej Palat’s goal being the notable exception—as the Lightning struggled to forecheck against a fluid Dallas breakout, but managed to squeak by with a 2-0 win.

Holding the Lightning to two goals is no small feat, and the Lightning finished with a measly 33 Corsi at 5v5. Conversely, the Stars had time and space on their entries. There is no such burden on the Lightning’s forwards to suffocate their opponents in transition. For Tampa Bay, separation between the forwards and defensemen is permitted because Andre Vasilevskiy is the ultimate safety blanket. The Lightning were badly outshot thanks to conceding six power plays, and in the second period especially, the Stars were slugging shots on net. But the Lightning won because Vasilevskiy is outstanding. In a tight-checking, low-scoring game, Tampa Bay can seize on a few opportunities to create an edge.

Aside from Vasilevskiy—he will get his due later—Steven Stamkos is the biggest winner from last night. Stamkos’s primary assist on the Palat goal was ridiculous as he caught the scoop pass from Yanni Gourde at full speed, knifed through Taylor Fedun and Alexander Radulov, and yanked the puck toward the left circle, forcing Julius Honka to move his stick out of the passing lane and into position to guard the shooting lane. Once Honka ceded the passing lane through the middle, Stamkos slipped a backhand pass right into the shooting radius of Palat, who slammed the puck near post. This play underscores how you can suppress the Lightning, but rarely silence them. The Stars had the numbers advantage to defend the rush, but Stamkos individually created a scoring chance.



The Stamkos line looked the best of any Lightning line last night, which isn’t saying much. Stamkos generated another opportunity in the first period where he looked like the puck was a magnet on his stick, and because of that he was able to generate separation and unleash a shot on net. Yanni Gourde nearly scored a goal bar down on his backhand but it sailed just over the bar. For a game that the Lightning won, it wasn’t the most inspired performance from their forwards or defensemen.

There is a misconception that responsibility and creativity are different sides of a coin. But this isn’t really true. They are more like two companions riding on a ski lift. There is a relationship, but each has an existence independent of the other. Vasilevskiy is accountable and doesn’t concede any easy rebounds. His positioning and anticipation are so proficient that he makes extremely difficult saves look routine. But he also has a streak of imagination that allows him to stretch the bounds of what we think is possible. His flexibility and use of his pads became highlight fodder in December after he stuffed Patrick Marleau and Wayne Simmonds. Vasilevskiy proves that beating the Lightning requires not just talent but luck. For as skilled as Tampa Bay is, they can play mediocre and still come away with a victory due to his singularity.

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