Do not let the title fool you; in no way, shape, or form, am I counting out the Tampa Bay Lightning. In saying that, after watching the boys in blue (and white) get handily beaten by the Avalanche in games 1 and 2, it’s hard not to think that they may be facing more of an uphill battle than we thought. The fact of the matter is, the Avalanche are housing an arsenal of skill and speed, and unleashing it on the Lightning, who, after three years of deep playoff runs, are tired.
It’s not to say that the Lightning’s fatigue isn’t well deserved. They’re looking to become the first team to 3-peat since the Islanders of the 1980s. Back then, the schedule was shorter, the game much less intense and fast, and the playoffs less grueling. The sheer fact that they are even in this position once again, for the third year in a row, speaks to the dedication and commitment of each and every player on this team.
However, no one really remembers who finished in second place, and right now it’s looking like the Lightning are heading for that spot real fast. So, how can they get back into this series? Well, here are three ways I would suggest.
#1 – Throw the Body
The Avalanche are relentless when it comes to their attacking speed. That is thanks in part to Nathan MacKinnon, who is not only one of the fastest players in the game but also has implemented his teammates on strict diets and performance-based exercises to accentuate their physical prowess and speed. It’s safe to say it’s been paying off.
The only way I see this Lightning team slowing them down is by throwing the body more than they usually do. Start a fight, throw a (clean, obviously) open-ice hit. Get something going to try and knock the Avalanche off their game. Right now the Lightning is trying to fight fire with fire (offense vs offense) when they really should be fighting with ice.
#2 – Infiltrate their Special Teams
The Avalanches’ special teams (specifically the power-play) are firing on all cylinders right now. I know it doesn’t take rocket science to figure this out, and I’m sure the Lightning and head coach Jon Cooper already know this, but you have to be able to stop the power-play. Right now, that’s not happening.
Maybe it’s by implementing a new penalty kill scheme? Maybe it’s by Vasilevskiy getting his mojo back. All I, and all the fans, know is that something has to change with this penalty kill if they want to survive this series.
#3 – Experiment with the Line Combinations
It’s obvious their current lines aren’t working for the team they’re playing against. It worked beautifully against Toronto, Florida, and New York, but the Avalanche are a different animal, and that means a different lineup is needed.
I’m no hockey expert, nor do I claim to be one, but when something’s broke, you got to fix it. This team isn’t broken, they just need to get back to the basics and play their way.