Really. It doesn’t matter how they do it or who does it, they just need to win. After practicing after their loss in Game 1, Lightning took the opposite approach after Game 2 and stayed on the sidelines (most of the time). There was no formal training as the coaching staff chose to let the players spend time with their families after a difficult first four days of the playoffs.
With a clear goal and a mentally clear, I hope they can find that little extra they need to achieve victory tonight. Aside from a slow start in Game 1 and a lackluster second half of Game 2, the Lightning went step-by-step with the Panthers. Didn’t even play enough in the playoffs and they need to get better, mainly in the offensive zone.
Tonight is the night they need to drop everything in an easy way attack and look to do something they haven’t in all series: put themselves on stage and play with a leader. From the opening whistle of the series, the Bolts were ahead or behind the entire game. With the way most playoff games go, that’s predictable, but the problem is that playing from behind allows Florida to dictate the pace of the game.
Even though they defend two leads at the end of the series, but the Panthers were content with disturbing the neutral zone and forcing Tampa Bay to play a chasing style that has not been their strong suit for much of the season. When the Lightning are on, they like to drive through the neutral zone and push back defenders to open up their passing game in that zone. This was clearly missing for much of the series as Florida was not forced to take risks or mobilize its defenders for more offensive opportunities.
Besides, he missed a A few rebounds and a good routine that didn’t work out. shots, especially at the beginning of the match. The Lightning’s problem, at least so far in the series, is that they can’t make him pay for rebounds consistently. Brandon Hagel’s goal was actually the only time Bobrovsky was beaten on the second try. A statistical trick naturally means that Bobrovsky has only faced eight rebound attempts, with only five goaltenders who have appeared in at least two postseason games facing fewer.
To help him make life a little more miserable, they need to pass in front of the net. Referring to NST, it showed that the Lightning were recorded with just 18 high-danger chances at 5-on-5 in the two games (Florida had 31), with Bobrovsky facing 12 high-danger shots. They beat him twice in those 12 at-bats, which isn’t too bad, so they really should do it more.
They should do the opposite at the other end of the game. fighting Place. Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the main reasons why they are within striking distance in both matches. According to NST, he faced 24 high-danger shots (leading the playoffs) and 17 blocked shots (second to the Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov). Vasy’s 0.941 SV% at 5v5 is the third-highest in the league while his 4.08 GSAx is the second-highest. Anyone worried that Vasilevskiy has lost form when faced with high-pressure matches can rest assured that he is still up to his old tricks.
Sadly, he couldn’t score. Coach Cooper likes to emphasize the importance of three goals in a hockey game. Keep a team under three goals and you have a good chance of winning. Score three or more goals and you have a good chance of winning. So far, the Lightning have not reached that total. With a little more action online, maybe they can get back on the show.
