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Lightning equally comfortable playing tight defense or showtime hockey |
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Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has started 61 NHL postseason games. Nikita Kucherov has played 98. Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn are at 100. Victor Hedman’s total is 117. And that doesn’t come close to matching Ryan McDonagh’s 147.
If you go up and down the Tampa Bay Lightning roster, what you see are the names of skilled players with an impressive amount of postseason experience.
It’s not last year’s Stanley Cup championship that makes the Lightning difficult to conquer, but rather the lessons they learned along the way.
Tampa’s collection of veterans probably understand the trials and tribulations of a Stanley Cup run better, or at least as well, as any other group in the league. The Lightning have the work experience equivalent of a Ph.D in playoff hockey.
The Lightning have done enough losing and winning over the past several seasons to reach the highest level of understanding of what needs to be done to be successful. They are skilled tradesmen, experts in their field. Whatever you throw at them, they’ve seen before.
They played a high scoring series against Florida, and outscored them 24-17. In the second round, Carolina is putting forth a strong defensive effort and the Lightning have won both games by a 2-1 decision.
In Game 2, the Hurricanes only gave up 15 shots on goal. But the Lightning mastered the small details necessary to win. They only had 11 giveaways, compared to Carolina’s 23. Tampa Bay blocked 16 shots and then found a way to score twice.
That’s all the Lightning needed.
The Lightning have the world’s best goalie, plus one of the top three defensemen in the game and a group of skilled forwards that measure up to any group in the league.
But that isn’t the scary aspect of this team.
Talent is important, but their knowledge of how to effectively use their talent is what makes the Lightning dangerous.
The Lightning can toggle back and forth between offensive and defensive excellence. This is a team that also boasts depth, gumption and grit and they appreciate when to use each of those gifts.
Tampa Bay is not unbeatable. The Lightning didn’t even win their division. But the return of Kucherov has made them stronger. Plus, the Lightning still have salary cap problems. Hence, the team has added motivation. A veteran player or two might have to be moved in the summer. Not all of them will be on the team for the next run. The Lightning want to make this run count. They seem driven to repeat.
To beat this Lightning team, you have to be as confident playing any style as they are. You have to be as patient as the Lightning. You have to be opportunistic as they are. You need to take away Vasilevskiy’s sight lines.
And you probably need some luck.
It’s too early to know whether the Lightning will repeat, but we can be sure they understand what needs to be done to get that accomplished
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
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