Tampa Bay Lightning: What Went Wrong In Game 6?
May 26, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) gets called for cross checking Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) during the first period of game six of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Too Many Unnecessary Penalties
The Tampa Bay Lightning did not have what one would call an exuberant amount of penalties in tonight’s Game 6 matchup, but it was the timing of said penalties and the sheer unnecessary nature of a number of them that sting the most in tonight’s 7-3 loss.
There are really two of the Lightning’s four penalties that cause some concern for us. The first of those goals is the penalty to Nikita Kucherov in the opening minutes of the second period. While we will assert that this is one of the weakest incidents of Hooking we have ever seen, this is something that was completely unnecessary.
The upside here is that this penalty did not result in one of the Rangers 7 goals, but as with every penalty that both teams take, it opened the door for the Blue Shirts and provided them with an opportunity with the man advantage. The cause for concern is that it is not generally like Kucherov to take these kind of penalties and we don’t want to see it continue into Game 7.
The penalty that gave us the most cause for concern is the penalty assessed by Nikita Nesterov just before the halfway point in the third period. The Tampa Bay Lightning seemed to have finally awakened on the ice, and this penalty not only killed the momentum but it opened the door for Rick Nash to capitalize on the Power Play and extend the Rangers lead to 6-2.
If the Lightning want to bring home the victory in Game 7 in front of the hostile New York Rangers crowd, they are going to have to be mindful of not only where they are on the ice, but where the other players are and avoid taking any penalties that are not absolutely necessary.
Next: More Turnovers Than A Bakery
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