As the Tampa Bay Lightning prepares for their contest with the Washington Capitals, let’s take a look at some of the top Lightning Headlines making their way around the Bolts Nation.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been on a rather wild ride as of late. After dropping three games in a row, the Lightning attempted to break the cycle with a victory at the Scottrade Center over the St. Louis Blues. Unfortunately, despite a rally in the third period, the Bolts were unable to mount a comeback.
Thankfully, the Lightning didn’t have very long to sit back and dwell on their loss. The Bolts are back in business later tonight as they charge into the Amalie Arena here in the heart of the Bolts Nation to take on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
There are a lot of aspects of the game that need improving if the team is going to emerge victoriously over a team like the Capitals. The Capitals have a high-powered offense that has little to no issue beating their opponents to the punch and putting the puck in the back of the net.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning will have to learn to get into the dirty zones, resist the urge to overpass the puck, be strong on the forecheck, and most of all, play a strong defensive game. Taking into consideration the amount of injuries the team is dealing with right now, the aforementioned task is easier said than done.
At the same time, if there is any team in the National Hockey League whose reputation has been strongly forged in the fires of adversity, it’s the Tampa Bay Lightning. It may take some more line juggling from Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper, but if there is any team who can get the job done, it’s the Bolts.
Before the Bolts take the ice later tonight in the hopes of ending their current skid and bringing home the two points against the Washington Capitals, let’s take a closer look at some of the top Tampa Bay Lightning Headlines and NHL News making its way around the Bolts Nation today.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has started a new feature on their site known as “Ask Burnsie.” In the latest edition, Lightning Beat Writer takes on all kinds of questions from fans about the game, his life, and so much more. Burns discussed everything from press box food selections to managing Lightning-related stress.
Although, we must say…listening to Bryan Burns take on the subject of hockey funk and the fierce and sometimes painful effect it has on humans is quite the read. [Tampa Bay Lightning]
While the Tampa Bay Lightning have undoubtedly been trapped in a massive rut as of late, things haven’t been all doom and gloom here in the Bolts Nation. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, who got off to a rather slow start this season, has quickly gone from zero to hero this season.
Kucherov has tapped into his inner goal-scoring sniper and taken the lead on the team in all manners scoring. A talent like Kucherov’ has become all that much more important since the Tampa Bay Lightning lost captain Steven Stamkos until at least late March with a lateral tear in his right meniscus. It comes as no surprise Kucherov was chosen as the NHL’s Second Star of November. [Bolts By The Bay]
The Lightning may have had a trying couple of days, but there is someone in the Lightning organization who had a pretty good weekend; the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Despite being down a number of key players thanks to recalls by the Bolts, the Crunch brought home three of the four points available. [Raw Charge]
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been ravaged by injuries as of late. Out of everyone who has been sidelined, there has been one particular player whose absence has reverberated through the Lightning’s blueline. The aforementioned blueliner is Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman. [Lightning Shout]
Next: Ryan Callahan Placed On Injured Reserve
The Tampa Bay Lightning certainly have an uphill battle in front of them tonight. The Washington Capitals are a dangerous team from every position. If the Lightning wants to emerge victoriously against the Capitals, they will have to play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey, and maybe most importantly, stay out of the penalty box.