Lightning Lose Opening Night Game 3-1 to Rangers

First Period

The first five minutes seemed slow from a pace standpoint. Both teams appeared hesitant to take any chances. Both were defense focused and didn’t want to get beat.

Hagel had two very good positioning blocks when the Rangers had a long spell of possession in the Lightning zone.

The Lightning appear to be playing wide on the wings without many overlapping runs to start. It looked like a slower playoff game of getting the puck in deep and using the backboards as a way to pass it across the ice and try to possess behind the net.

After 12 minutes in, the first rust from both teams started showing. Some bad line changes created opportunities for both teams. The defensive positioning and goaltending kept it scoreless with the Ranger getting the better of the chances.

The face off circle remains an issue for the Lightning. It hurt them in the postseason and continues to hurt the Lightning’s possession. The Rangers on the Power Play seemed to runt he same place twice. Defender runs to side and forward drops into the mid slot. Their entire Power Play ran through that middle slot position on their first Power Play shift. Once the Lightning adjusted, the middle slot man decoyed and forced Vasy to make an amazing save right at the goal crease.

For both teams through the first period: not a lot of clean shots. Shots, one timers, and redirects were weaker than normal and not as clean off the stick as you would want.

Second Period

2nd Period the Rangers picked up where the left off with the better scoring chances, even when shorthanded when they finally beat Vasy. Zibanejad picked up his hot streak from the playoffs when he was by far the best player on the Rangers. Vasy went to poke check and Zibanejad was able to have quicker hands and put it absolutely perfectly in the top left corner.

The Lightning looked slow and even let up another breakaway but Vasy was able to handle it cleanly. Things did not look good until Hagel drew two penalties on the same play leading to a 2 minute 5 on 3. On this Power Play, the Lightning were able to control the puck and gain the zone, unlike the first Power Play. What actually led to the goal was a rare offensive zone faceoff win with Stamkos drifting away from goal and his signature one timer up high. Shersterkin had good positioning but the height of the shot and the speed made it very difficult for any goalie to stop.

The Lightning have 16 shots overall, whereas the Rangers have 15 shots going 0 for 3 on the Power Play and have 30 shots overall. To get it going in the 3rd period and win this game, the Lightning need to start putting shots on net and need to play 5 on 5. The Rangers Power Play has been very good, just can’t find that finish and most likely blanked thus far just because of how good Vasy is.

Third Period

The Lightning had an early Power Play opportunity but one of the most frustrating things the Lightning had trouble with in the playoffs was entering the zone during the Power Play. Then, right after the Rangers killed the Power Play, they draw a high stick from Vlad and scored on a ensuing Power Play…. And it was Zibanejad again. The next couple shifts felt like the ice was titled and the Rangers had all the momentum. Lightning had another Power Play but wasn’t able to put much pressure or have many chances. The Rangers then brought the pressure and was able to maintain until an even strength goal was scored with poor defending and inability to get the puck out of the zone.

Chernak was able to draw a penalty with about 7 minute left which would hope to bring some life into the Lightning offense. However, there was only 1 shot from Perry from an extreme angle that was never any threat to a goalie of Shersterkin’s talent.

Key Questions/Takeaways Moving Forward:

1. Improvement in the Faceoff Circle. It is imperative that if the Lightning want to be a possession team, it must start from the faceoff circle. Tonight, they were extremely poor, but when the did get a rare win, it led to a goal

2. 5 on 5 is the sweet spot. Stamkos reiterated this. More 5 on 5 hockey will lead to more success for the Lightning. And when on the Power Play, the Lightning need to be able to gain the zone more easily.

3. Vasy is still so so so good. This game easily could have been 5-1.