Concept of bye weeks offers rest but some call the idea “stupid”

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 13, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Now the Lightning rest while battling restlessness.

Tampa Bay entered its bye week on Sunday, a new wrinkle in the league this season where each team has a full week of time between games. The players are given five days away from the rink with no team-related activities, including practice, during that time.

Practice resumes on Friday at Amalie Arena before returning to the schedule on Saturday at Dallas, the first of the final 26 games of the season for the Lightning, which is fighting to remain in playoff contention.

So while they sit idle for a week, basking in whatever sunshine the players seek out, the Lightning wait to find out where they will rest in the league standings by the time they return.

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Tampa Bay hit the break on a high note on a 3-0-1 stretch, the longest run of consecutive games the Lightning have earned a point since a four-game winning streak in mid-November. The four-game streak pulled Tampa Bay out of the basement in the Eastern Conference standings and up to 12th overall.

The playoffs are still within site, just four points behind the second wild card position and seven points out of the third spot in the Atlantic Division, with two games in hand against the Bruins.

But what is that gap going to look like when the Lightning resume play this weekend?

As the Lightning rest and wait, other teams they are trying to chase – or create distance from – will be playing games.

Toronto will play twice, including a Tuesday game against the resurgent New York Islanders, who enter the week three points ahead of Tampa Bay in the standings. Philadelphia, which is tied with Toronto, also play a pair of games. The Islanders play a pair of games as well.

Florida, one point ahead of Tampa Bay, heads to the West Coast starting Wednesday to begin a four-game road trip, with two of those games taking place during the Lightning bye week.

So four teams directly above the Lightning in the standings all have chances at gaining four points and creating distance from Tampa Bay, with the Islanders or Leafs guaranteed two points on Tuesday.

Boston is also off for a week, resuming play on Sunday at San Jose after shutting out the Canadiens on Feb. 12.

So the dilemma is there for Tampa Bay. While the rest is always a welcome relief, a reason the NHLPA negotiated the bye week with the league was to give additional in-season rest for players who participated in the World Cup of Hockey – and the Lightning had the most of any team – the time away is almost certain to create a larger gap in the standings.

And with this much time off the ice at this time of the year, it could have an effect on the flow Tampa Bay has started to generate in its game right now.

”I think it’s stupid,’’ Lightning center Brian Boyle said. “It’s already a compressed schedule and it is what it is and everybody has to go through out. But we better take care of ourselves and make sure we stay read. It’s always nice to have a little break, but as the season progresses, games get more important and it’s more fun. You want to keep a rhythm and keep it going.’’

It’s been a solid rhythm with three wins in the past four games, not allowing more than two goals in any of the past four games.

”We’ve been working at this for a while,’’ Boyle said of finding the groove. “That’s how quick it can go and how much attention to detail we need to have. Whether that’s doing battle drills like we have been doing before games, which I think has helped our game, so we need to make sure we continue that kind of attitude.’’

With most things, it’s never known the complete affect until the other side is reached while experiencing something for the first time.

”It seems like we’ve had a lot of back-to-backs, but I’ll get a better feel once we get to enjoy the bye week and see how much rest we get,’’ forward Alex Killorn said. “But as of now I can’t really (know) until we go through it.’’

The primary concern – outside of losing ground in the standings – is how it will feel getting back on the ice after five days away. Normally, just two days off skates has a noticeably effect on players once they get back on the ice. It generally takes a practice or two to get those “skating legs’’ back under them. This will be five days, and though players are free to rent ice somewhere if they feel the need to stay on the ice, most intend to just actively rest by doing workouts during the mini-vacation.

”It might depend on the guy, some guys can take five days off and get back for one skate and be right back in to it,’’ Killorn said. “I think giving some guys some rest, giving guys some energy because over the long season you tend to lose it through 82 games. So in a lot of ways it’s good for certain guys. I know a lot of guys like to be on the ice, so it just depends on the player.’’

Count Killorn as one of those who likes the concept of the full week between games.

”I like to have the time off, so I might have a different opinion from somebody else, but I’m for it.’’ he said.

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