After a shocking three-game win streak, the Tampa Bay Lightning dropped back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets on the highway over the weekend. Regardless of that they’re two of the NHL’s finest groups this season, they’ve set a benchmark of the place the Bolts have to be to compete for the Stanley Cup.
Associated: Wild Take Down Lightning 5-3 With Robust Third Interval
Whereas it’s nonetheless early within the season, the Lightning have had some positives and negatives over their first 12 video games. In any case, Tampa Bay was a large query mark following all of the offseason adjustments. With that stated, right here’s a have a look at probably the most precious takeaways from the previous two video games.
Lightning Teaching Employees Prioritizing Vasilevskiy’s Well being
Lightning followers might have been confused after they noticed Jonas Johansson earn the beginning job towards the highest group within the NHL on Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg. Nonetheless, it was a wise transfer by the teaching workers. In contrast to earlier seasons, Vasilevskiy wants a lighter workload, particularly given his age and harm from final season. Subsequently, the group turned to their 6-foot-5 backup to face the Jets.
Johansson surrendered 4 five-on-five objectives on 27 photographs for a .852 save share (Sv%) by way of NaturalStatTrick. Moreover, he posted -1.98 objectives saved above anticipated within the 7-4 loss. He allowed two high-danger objectives, a medium-danger objective, and a low-danger objective. Whereas not his finest efficiency, it was good for Johansson to get a difficult sport. The beginning will enhance his confidence and put together him in case of harm.
Nick Paul Struggling With out Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli
Earlier than rookie Conor Geekie jumped right into a top-six function just a few video games in the past, the Lightning had Nick Paul play proper wing alongside Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. The road was very profitable at controlling puck possession at five-on-five and was one of the crucial dominant traces within the NHL over the primary couple of video games of the season. Nonetheless, Paul was demoted again to a third-line middle function, the place his possession numbers at five-on-five are beginning to appear like final season’s.
Over the two-game span towards the Wild and Jets, Paul had an 18.58 on-ice anticipated objectives for share share (xGF%) at five-on-five, ranked lowest on the roster. Moreover, his 33.62 on-ice photographs for share (SF%) ranked final on the group. In different phrases, with Paul on the ice, the Lightning gave up two photographs for one they produced. As administration begins to consider in-season acquisitions, a third-line scoring ahead must be on the prime of the listing for Tampa Bay.
Conor Geekie Incomes Jon Cooper’s Belief
Head Coach Jon Cooper hasn’t had a prized rookie like Geekie shortly. The Lightning have dealt a lot of their draft capital for deadline acquisitions in recent times. Nonetheless, the group bought its finest prospect in years within the Mikhail Sergachev commerce. Geekie is already in a second-line function with Hagel and Cirelli, and he’s been stellar.
Cooper’s belief within the rookie together with his defensive zone face-off deployment is spectacular. Geekie began 15.62% of his shifts within the defensive zone (DZ%) over the two-game weekend by way of EvolvingHockey. Moreover, he continues to create offense of managed zone entries within the microstats workbook. He seems to be like a future star for the blue and white.
Lightning’s Upcoming Schedule
The Lightning proceed their Central Division highway journey on Tuesday evening towards the St. Louis Blues (Nov. 5). Then, following a house sport on Thursday evening towards the Philadelphia Flyers (Nov. 7), the group has per week off till their rematch with the Jets at Amalie Area (Nov. 14). The Bolts will look to get again on monitor after a strong October. The new additions of Jake Guentzel and J.J. Moser have match superbly because the Lightning franchise transitions into a brand new period.
