Tampa Bay Lightning In Search Of Road Success In Game 3

The Tampa Bay Lightning will charge into the United Center tonight to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Tampa Bay Lightning has a lofty task in front of them tonight. After their 4-3 win on Saturday night, which tied the series at 1, the Lightning look to channel some of the road success they’ve had during the post season as they head into the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

As we mentioned before, the Tampa Bay Lightning has seen plenty of success on the road, both in the regular season and thus far in the post season, but they may be in for one of their greatest challenges yet as they head into the United Center for Game 3.

After the first two games in this series, we all know that Chicago Blackhawks fans are some of the most boisterous and passionate fans in the National Hockey League. We mean, they refer to the United Center as the Madhouse on Madison for a reason. Much like the Tampa Bay Lightning has their Thunder here in the Bolts Nation; the Chicago faithful will be out in numbers tonight.

The roar of the crowd in the United Center is only one of the obstacles that the Lightning will have to overcome if they want to be successful in tonight’s encounter. As we have mentioned before, there are a few loose ends that the Lightning will need to tie up in order to come out on top and take the lead in the series.

While we here in the Bolts Nation anxiously await the puck to drop tonight at the United Center, let’s take a look at our five keys to a Tampa Bay Lightning victory.

Set The Tone Early
Continue to Be Aggressive
Play a Strong Defensive Game
Stay Out of the Penalty Box
Consistency Is Key

As usual, let’s take a look at each one of them individually and see what the big picture has in store for the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in Chicago.

Set The Tone Early

Setting the tone early in the game has proven to be an asset for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning’s record in the post season is 10-1-0 when they have successfully drawn first blood in an encounter. While stats are not everything when it comes to the success or failure of a team, there is no denying that numbers like these are enough to give fans hope.

Also, by setting the tone early in the game it allows the Tampa Bay Lightning to dictate the pace of the game as it unfolds, thus giving them a clear advantage and also achieving something incredibly important; ensuring the team isn’t burned out in the first period.

Another benefit to this is the ability to get in the head of their opponents. There is no denying that when a team comes out of the tunnel with a fire in their hearts and immediately puts on the offensive pressure that it does something to the mental state of the opposition.

In some cases it will cause the opposition to take a step back, evaluate their game, and make the necessary changes; however, there are also times when something like this will get into the opponent’s heads and completely throw them off their game. This is what the Lightning hope to achieve tonight.

Continue to Be Aggressive

There is no denying that the Tampa Bay Lightning has a tremendous offensive core that is more than capable of putting pressure on just about any team in the National Hockey League. At the same time, the Chicago Blackhawks have a pretty good defensive core. It is going to take a lot if they want to pierce the zone and get quality shots on Corey Crawford.

In addition to that, the team is going to have to continue the pattern of digging for rebounds that they have shown in the first two games in the series. We all love those pretty goals that are prime material for highlight reels and Top 10 Lists, but in a series like this one it is all about those ugly goals that somehow make it in.

A prime example of this is Tyler Johnson’s record-setting goal in the second period. Johnson had already taken a shot on the net, which had been turned away by Crawford, but Johnson dug for the rebound and was able to jam the puck between Crawford’s blocker and the goal post and regain the lead for Tampa Bay.

It is this type of play that will allow the Lightning to continue to sink pucks past Crawford and lead the Bolts to the victory they desire so very much.

Play A Strong Defensive-Game

While it is essential for the Tampa Bay Lightning to have a high-powered offense, it is also incredibly important for them to have a strong defensive core and a team that is able to play a defensive-minded game. Much like the Lightning, the Chicago Blackhawks have a pretty powerful offense as well.

The duo of Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and right wing Patrick Kane have been a formidable force through not only the regular season, but the post season as well. Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, the defensive-minded Bolts have been able to neutralize this combination and have even caused Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville to break up their line on occasion.

The truth is, while it is indeed important to put the puck in the back of the net, it is equally important to keep the other team out of your own net. You can score 20 goals in a game, but if the other team scores 21 then all of your hard work was for naught.

Stay Out of the Penalty Box

When it comes to the topic of the penalty box it is starting to feel like we are either speaking to ourselves or speaking in a language that is incomprehensible for some unknown reason. The Tampa Bay Lightning needs more than almost anything to find a way to get a handle on their time in the penalty box.

Don’t get us wrong…it’s not like the Lightning is spending any inordinate amount of time in the sin bin, but what seems to have the most detriment to the team is the timing of the penalties and the situations it puts the Tampa Bay Lightning in.

This is something the Lightning learned early in the second period of Game 2 when Blackhawks rookie Teuvo Teravainen was able to capitalize on their opportunity with the man-advantage and give the Hawks the lead for the first time that night.

This is a prime example of what the Tampa Bay Lightning needs to avoid tonight. While we understand that some situations are simply unavoidable, the ones that are need to be avoided at all costs. There is no sense in giving your opponent an opportunity at the upper hand.

Consistency Is Key

This is the point in the article where we beat the same old drum that we have been beating for a good portion of the season. The Tampa Bay Lightning simply must find a way to stay consistent for a full 60 minutes of hockey.

Consistency is the key element that was missing in Game 1 when the Tampa Bay Lightning gave up a lead that they held all game long in the final 7 minutes of the third period. In Saturday night’s encounter the Tampa Bay Lightning did a much better job of keeping the pressure on for the entire game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning hold the momentum going into tonight’s game after their thrilling 4-3 win over the Blackhawks, but that momentum can change in the blink of an eye if the Lightning take their eyes off the prize or if they allow the crowd in the United Center to serve as a distraction for them.

All they need to do is maintain their focus and do what the Tampa Bay Lightning has done best all season long; score goals and win games.

Tonight’s encounter at the Madhouse on Madison is not going to be a walk in the park for the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it is most certainly not a mountain that the Bolts cannot scale. All the Lightning need to do is maintain the focus and confidence they’ve had all season long and they will be on the right path.

Which Lightning player do you think will be the first to light the lamps tonight in Chicago? What do you think is going to be the most important key to a Tampa Bay Lightning victory tonight? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

The puck is scheduled to drop at 8:00 p.m. EST. If you’re still looking for information on how to catch all of tonight’s hockey action, here’s a quick look at everything you need to know. Are you ready to Be The Thunder?

Next: Ben Bishop Leaves Game 2 Early Amid Injury Speculation