The Tampa Bay Lightning take their four-game winning streak into a rematch at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday against the New York Rangers.
Since the opening-night loss, they’ve won four in a row. Perhaps that loss provided a necessary evil for the team.
"You don't want to sit and say Game 1 of 84,” head coach Jon Cooper said via the Tampa Bay Times. “The season hinges on that. But you look back now, I'm maybe not as upset otherwise that it happened. What I like is that the team has responded, and that's a good sign."
Whatever boost they were provided, it’s allowed them to start the season 4-1-0 in their first five games. By points, they’re in a three-way tie for first with the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins. They have a game in hand on the latter team.
We’ll see how this new momentum translates to the Rangers. Having that win in Nassau County against the Islanders provides more confidence. That was one team they struggled with last season that they took down. Maybe that will mean a rematch is more favorable to the Lightning.
Special teams are improving but still a focus in practice
The Lightning have picked up a power-play goal in each of their last two games. It’s a good step in the right direction. They made some changes, and now they’re starting to get something going. In those two games, they’re 2-for-7 (28.5%).
However, the job isn’t done. Reports from practice say the top power-play line is the same, but they’re still putting in the work on special teams. Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo Encina added that Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel have switched spots, with Guentzel getting more action at the bumper.
The more effort that goes in, the better. The expectation is that this team has a top power play unit in the game. On the flip side, they’ve slowly been seeing more success on the penalty kill. That may need a look at as well.
Nothing was reported on the special team's side, but the stats show that a tweak could be in order.
So far, the Lightning have had a penalty kill percentage of 72.7%, which is 25th in the NHL. In the last two games, it’s at 50% (two of four allowed).
Like with the power play, there isn’t much concern about the penalty kill yet. They don’t need to be told it could be costly in the long run, and they’re going to keep putting in the effort.
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