Lightning struggling defensively without Hedman
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the middle of the toughest stretch of the season thus far. The Lightning dropped a 5-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild last night in Minneapolis for their third consecutive loss. That’s 5 losses in the last 7 games. What was once a ten point lead in the division is now three points. The Lightning have been outscored 14-4 in those three games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy has given up 4 goals in the last five games. To say Vasilevskiy has struggled would be an understatement. Granted, the defense has been real shaky in front of him and has not given him a chance on some of those shots. But Vasilevskiy has admitted that he has to play better. The bye week came and went and we thought the Lightning would come back with a fire in the belly ready to go. That has not been the case.
The Lightning are still trying to figure out the defensive pairings with Hedman out with the injury and Mikhail Sergachev struggling his last few games. Now that Sergachev is having to play against the top lines every game, we are seeing some of the concerns that were being voiced about the 19 year old rookie at the beginning of the season. Victor Hedman could and did cover for a lot of mistakes that were made. The Lightning will have to get something figured quickly because Hedman will not be back for another 2-5 weeks.
Since the Hedman injury the mistakes in the defensive zone have been magnified. Turnovers in the defensive end are killing this time right now. The Lightning are allowing too many odd man rushes which is leading to many scoring chances for the opposition.
Offensively the team has lost its scoring touch and seems to have lost its mojo it had the first half of the season. Four goals in three games is not going to get you a lot of wins. In the loss to the Wild last night, the Bolts were outshot 35-23. In over 20 minutes of playing time, Steven Stamkos did not take a shot. Tyler Johnson had one shot in over 22 minutes.
Jon Cooper said the effort is there and the Lightning are playing hard they are just not playing smart. Everyone from Steven Stamkos to Cory Conacher needs to ask themselves if they are doing all they can to help this team win. Are they playing with passion?
This is the time of year when teams really get it cranked up. Teams will be jockeying for playoff position and the defensive intensity will be turned up as the playoff push begins.
It is not an easy stretch coming up as the Lightning will play the next seven away from Amalie Arena. The Lightning will be in Chicago Monday night, Nashville on Tuesday and in Philly on Thursday to play the Flyers. None of these games will be easy and will demand a great effort from the Lightning.
I know the Lightning will get this turned around and snap out of this funk that they are in. It has to start in Chicago tomorrow night.
—Ondrej Palet suffered a head injury in the game last night and flew home to Tampa to have it checked out. The Lightning have called up forwards Michael Peca and Michael Bournival from Syracuse. Palat will be out indefinitely
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