TB Lightning Oct 2011

[SandyBeach26]

Well, so here we are. Start of a new season, and the Bolts and their fans have high hopes for a Stanley Cup run.

Problem is, for whatever reason, their defense is porous. I don't think anyone expected Tampa Bay to be a defensive juggernaut, but it's sad that their lack of defensive play has been costing them games.

Hard to understand. Most players on this team should already be familiar with Coach Boucher's system and its variants. Granted, there are some new players on the Bolts, but still, not as much turnover as there has been in the past. It's a real headscratcher.

Bolts play great games against Boston and Washington, but ultimately lose, then get outworked by the Islanders in New York, then again by the Panthers (twice), and now are set to play the Islanders once again.

I have no doubt Tampa Bay will right the ship, so to speak...but it would be nice if they didn't dig themselves in a deep hole early on in the season before they get a chance to do so.

Let's go Bolts...get it together against the Isles this Thursday....you guys need not only a win, but a good defensive effort all around.

 

[SandyBeach26]

Pre-Game: Islanders at Lightning Thursday Oct 20, 2011

The Bolts are in some kind of funk right out of the gate, and they draw the team that thoroughly outplayed them at the island last time out.
On fire are Tavares, Parenteu, and Moulson....what do the Lightning have to do to put the lights out on these guys? Who should start in goal? Roloson has looked shaky...though his defense has let him down on more than one occasion...
And what if Grabner gets hot?

All these questions are really inconsequential as the main theme for the Lightning seems to be attention to detail on defense. Bolts are certainly scoring well enough...in fact, they still aren't scoring to their abilities, but well enough...but the defense and the work in the corners has been just BAD....no bones about it.

Lightning need to tighten that up and the wins will surely come....even if it means not being able to score 4 or 5 goals a night....keep the GA to about 1 or 2 a night, and you have a sure W.
I know..easier said than done. But the Bolts ARE playoff contenders. They just don't look like it. Over the last few games, they've made teams like the Islanders and Panthers look like world beaters...and this just can't happen.
Not that a loss is ever acceptable, but those losses vs. Boston and Washington were at least good showings on the ice....almost makes me think TB had some kind of letdown after losing those...

Get it together Bolts. Take care of the Isle first....for you have those North Eastern Champion contender Sabres up next....need to have your head straight to deal with them. Set is straight vs. Long Island.

 

[SandyBeach26]

Thursday Oct 20, 2011... Islanders at Lightning... Final: TB 4 , NYI 1


Now THIS is more like it. Top notch effort from start to finish. Play decent defense (not great, still could use some fine tuning...but good enough), finishing chances, and make outstanding saves when needed.

These are the sorts of things TB fans are expecting out of this team...and vs. the Islanders in this game, the Bolts delivered. Hopefully this will be the start of a good streak where all phases of the game will be played 100 percent, for a full 60 minutes. It may mean a win every time, but the Bolts will be in every game, and they WILL be pulling out a good share of wins.

With the standings currently topsy turvy with respect to most people's predictions, it is good to see the Lightning play a game in a style that should shoot them right back to the top of the SE standings. With Washington off to their great start, it's imperative Tampa Bay not fall too far behind and stay in striking distance when the eventual cooling off period of the Capitals comes.

Lightning will look to take this effort and duplicate it against a much more dangerous Buffalo team on Saturday. As talented as the Islanders are, Buffalo is a legitimate contender for the North East title, and Tampa Bay will have to play their own game, and not get pulled into Buffalo's "nonsense" play, as they are apt to do when facing a high skill team like the Lightning.

Let's go Bolts.....Sabres / Lightning...Saturday...should be fun.