Following a three-game win streak, the Tampa Bay Lightning have now misplaced three straight on the street to Central Division opponents. Whereas the Lightning confronted two of the league’s powerhouses within the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild, in addition they dropped a winnable recreation on Tuesday night time (Nov. 6) in opposition to the St. Louis Blues.
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Regardless of all of the modifications to Tampa Bay’s roster this offseason, the crew has performed significantly better at five-on-five within the early phases of the season. Nevertheless, their particular groups have taken successful, as their energy play and penalty kill proceed to underperform relative to final season. With all of the questions surrounding the transferring components, the Lightning sit with a file of 7-6-0. That mentioned, right here’s a have a look at probably the most beneficial takeaways from final night time’s recreation.
The Lightning Dearly Missed Brayden Level’s Presence
In Sunday afternoon’s recreation in opposition to the Jets, Brayden Level appeared to have suffered a lower-body harm. Whereas a exact evaluation has but to come back out, Level checked his groin repeatedly and didn’t return to motion on Sunday. In his place, the Lightning turned to Gage Goncalves, a 23-year-old second-round decide by the group in 2020.
Level’s absence was clear when the Lightning had been on the person benefit. Having a participant as expert as he’s in the midst of the ice for fast touches and photographs is important to the Lightning’s success. In spite of everything, the 28-year-old leads the league with 5 power-play targets on the season. Moreover, Level is a zone entry machine for the Bolts, and his absence led to the crew taking part in a Dump’n’Chase fashion as an alternative of controlling their entries.
Scoring Depth Stays Main Concern
Depth scoring is a matter that has carried over from final season. As soon as once more, the top-six forwards proceed to generate scoring probabilities and rating targets at an elite price. Then again, the underside six stay one of many worst offensively within the NHL and proceed to get caved in by opposing groups, which was by no means a difficulty throughout the Stanley Cup runs. In final night time’s loss, the underside six registered simply seven shot makes an attempt and two photographs on objective at five-on-five. This lack of offense is unacceptable if the Lightning wish to compete for the Stanley Cup once more this season.
In the meantime, the Blues’ bottom-six forwards doubled the Lightning’s bottom-six offensive manufacturing. The St. Louis backside six generated 12 shot makes an attempt and 6 photographs on objective at five-on-five, and that’s thought-about a comparatively common group across the league. The Lightning should discover inexpensive and efficient depth scoring, or they’ll find yourself with one other first-round exit within the postseason.
Nick Perbix Will get Too A lot Hate From Lightning Followers
One participant I’ve mentioned as a strong third-pairing defenseman is the high-risk, high-reward blueliner Nick Perbix. The 26-year-old scored his first objective of the season final night time, undressing a Blues defender and sticking with the play to bang residence the rebound with a great second effort. Perbix loves to leap within the play and is influential in transition. He’s always establishing zone entries and exits for the Lightning forwards, all the time head-manning the puck up the ice.
The followers give Perbix backlash for his occasional brutal recreation. There have been just a few when Perbix has appeared like a weak spot on the again finish, with quite a few turnovers in a single shift making an attempt to clear the zone. Nevertheless, he prefers to play a managed recreation in transition, and forfeiting the puck to the opponent isn’t his fashion. Perbix must proceed getting reps, and he’ll become a robust third-pairing defenseman with offensive upside, much like Erik Gustafsson, who’s now a member of the Detroit Pink Wings.
Lightning Put together for Week Off
After a house recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (Nov. 7), the Lightning have every week off. This break shall be useful, because the crew wants a reset and time for Level to heal from his harm. Fortunately, the Atlantic Division stays large open outdoors the Florida Panthers, who’re pulling away from the remainder of the pack.
