What it means to Tampa Bay Lightning to knock off two powerhouse teams in succession

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

TAMPA – Opening week figured to be a gauntlet of games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Florida, Florida, Washington and Pittsburgh were the first four games on the schedule. St. Louis comes next.

That’s two against a seemingly improved Florida team, the next two against Eastern Conference powers and then there’s tonight’s game against a Blues team that always seems to find a way to get in to the postseason while residing in hockey’s toughest division, the Central.

But it was the middle portion that figured to be a good test for a Lightning squad many are predicting to be a favorite to win the Eastern Conference this season. And it was those two teams that in recent history have given Tampa Bay all sorts of trouble.

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Since the 2012-13 season, Tampa Bay had been 4-10-2 against the Capitals and were outscored 60-45 entering the season. Since 2011-12, the Lightning were 5-13-1 against the Penguins, which included being swept in the season series three times including last season, and outscored 83-57.

In the two meetings this week, the Lightning beat both teams in consecutive games and for the most part, controlled a good portion of the game along the way to victory.

That’s a good early season sign that, after a pair of games in which the Lightning started slowly, that the Lightning are awake in the early going.

”That’s the key, so it’s consistency,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “That’s the thing we’ve been preaching to the guys, is go out and have a good period and feel good about yourselves, then come out the next period and lay an egg. It doesn’t work that way. Since we left Sunrise (on Saturday), we’ve been a little bit of a different team.’’

Certainly it hasn’t been perfection. They fell behind to the Capitals by two goals on two occasions before rallying to win in overtime. Against Pittsburgh, they failed to protect three two-goal leads, allowing the Penguins to get to within a goal three times before holding them off in the final minutes of the game to pick up the victory.

”Those two teams, the Capitals and the Penguins, have been two teams we’ve had a lot of trouble with the past couple years,’’ Alex Killorn said. “Two wins in the beginning of the season against them in front of our home crowd is huge.’’

It was only game three and four of the season, so the true meaning of beating those two teams in consecutive games will be known further on down the road. So nobody is blowing anything out of proportion.

”It is early so I wouldn’t put too much thought into It’’ captain Steven Stamkos said. “These are good teams so anytime you can beat a good team it’s going to give you confidence, especially to respond the way we have after that tough effort [against Florida]. We’ve responded well and now we’ll continue to work to get better. There are still some areas we’d like to clean up.’’

Most notably, how many pucks are getting behind goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.

”Would we like to have our goals against down? No question,’’ Cooper said. “But there is a lot to like about our game.’’

Now, go out and do it again.

Details on the 25th anniversary celebration during Saturday’s game against St. Louis

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today details for honoring the franchise’s original 1992-93 team on Saturday night when the Bolts take on the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m. at Amalie Arena. Returning members from the original team include Phil and Tony Esposito, Roman Hamrlik, Terry Crisp, Rob Zamuner and John Tucker.

The Bolts will wear special jerseys during warmups to honor the first team in franchise history. Prior to puck drop, the Lightning will honor the 1992-93 team with a pre-game ceremony, which includes nearly 20 members from the original team. In addition to 16 of the original players, the Lightning will welcome back head coach Terry Crisp and broadcasters Larry Hirsch, Danny Gare and John Kelly.

Big Storm Brewing is giving away a free rally towel jersey replica to any fan that purchases the Lightning Twenty Five brew in-arena on Saturday night.

During the first intermission, members from the inaugural team will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans in sections 112, 128, 202, 320 and in the IOA Suite Level at Amalie Arena.

The Lightning’s post-game radio show, The Last Call, presented by Jack Daniels, located at Rum Fish Grill in section 106, will also feature a member from the 1992-93 team.

Full list of 1992-93 original team members attending on Saturday:

General Manager, Phil Esposito

Director of Hockey Operations, Tony Esposito

Head Coach Terry Crisp

#5 Rob Ramage

#7 Rob Zamuner

#8 Ken Hodge

#10 Adam Creighton

#14 John Tucker

#16 Chris Kontos

#17 Basil McCrae

#18 Rob DiMaio

#19 Brian Bradley

#21 Tim Berglund

#29 Joe Reekie

#32 Peter Taglianetti

#34 Mikael Andersson

#35 Pat Jablonski

#37 Steve Maltais

#44 Roman Hamrlik

Broadcasters – Larry Hirsch, Danny Gare, John Kelly

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