Lightning playing like it‘s the team to beat.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the best team in The NHL. The Lightning have collected 21 out of a possible 26 points to start the season, their best start in fanchise history. Since the opening weekend loss in Sunrise, The Lightning have played most every game like it’s game 7 of the Stanley Cup final going 9-1-1.
The biggest difference in this years Lightning team vs. last year is the overall health of the team. The Bolts are clicking on all cylinders and the face of the franchise Steven Stamkos is finally healthy, Ryan Callahan after playing in only a handful of games is 100% after hip surgery. The Lightning really missed the leadership of Stamkos and the gritty play of Callahan last season.
It’s hard to get into any kind of rhythm and chemistry when you have key players missing out of your lineup, and the Lightning are proving this year how important that is. The line of Stamkos, Kucherov and Namenstikov leads the NHL is scoring. That line has been incredible the first 13 games as Stamkos is the NHL scoring leader with 24 points and Kucherov leads the league in goals scored with 13.
Kucherov is averaging a goal a game and should hit the 50 goal mark easily at his current pace. The rookie Mikhail Sergachev has been better than advertised. Sergachev is playing more minutes every game, and is earning the trust of Jon Cooper for more PK and PP minutes. Sergachev with his play is on pace for rookie of the year consideration providing he stays healthy and continues he’s to improve his game. With his 4g and 6A, Sergachev leads all defensemen in scoring. So far it looks like the Lightning are the early winners in the Jonathan Drouin trade.
The young kids that have been brought up from Syracuse are contributing. Credit former Syracuse coach Rob Zettler and the Crunch organization with the development of a lot of the Lightning players who are contributing this season. The Crunch and the run to the Calder Cup finals the last two years have helped the players prepare to play key roles for the Lightning. Yanni Gourde, Jake Dotchin, Brayden Point, and Gabriel Dumont have all played key roles for the Lightning this season.
The Lightning would not be off to the start that they are if not for the play of Andrei Vasilevsky. All Vasilevskiy has done is come up with one big save after another to turn a game around, and preserve a victory. The red hot Vasilevskiy has won nine straight, a franchise record and shows no signs of cooling off.
The one concern I do have is the play of Peter Budaj. The Lightning have lost the two games that Budaj has started, a 4-1 loss to Anaheim on Saturday night and earlier in the season a 5-4 OT loss in New Jersey. Maybe it‘s a lack of work, could be he just hasn’t found a rhythm yet this season. But Budaj is expected to come in, give Vasilevskiy a rest now and then and win some games. Hopefully, Budaj can get it turned around.
This is shaping up to be a special season for the Lightning. One that could end with Lord Stanley’s Cup being raised in June. A lot of hockey has yet to played. let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.
