Monday Morning Faceoff: California trip, Bishop vs. Vasilevskiy

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

Welcome back to the Monday Morning Faceoff a weekly debate here on LightningInsider.com.

This weekly feature brings together Erik Erlendsson, creator of LightningInsider.com, and Greg Linnelli, who hosts Lightning Power Play Live weekdays from 6-7 p.m. or one hour prior to puck drop on game days on TBLPowerplay.com as well as intermission host during radio broadcasts. We will also like to bring in special guests on a regular basis to debate topical items surrounding the Tampa Bay Lightning and around the NHL as we exchange our thoughts in a back-and-forth exchange that will appear every Monday morning.

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Erik: I like to refer to the trip through California as the Golden Triangle because teams from the East Coast tend to see victories disappear when the road leads through San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim. But not only did the Lightning sweep the three teams for the first time since 1993-94, they did so in dominating fashion. San Jose scored on the opening shift but didn’t get much of a sniff the rest of the game. The Lightning dethroned the Kings in the blink of an eye with four goals in two minutes in the first period then went in to Anaheim and dominated the Ducks in a game that would have been a blowout had it not been for the play of John Gibson in the Anaheim net.
Not sure I can decide between which victory of the three was more impressive!

Greg: It was an amazing trip for the Lightning. I’m not sure what impressed me more during this time: the offense or the defense. I’ll say the most impressive win was the first game against the Sharks.They came in playing well and had a hot goaltender in Martin Jones.The Bolts hung a five spot on them and the rest was history. Getting that first win on the road is sometimes the most difficult. By doing that, they gave themselves a chance to have a really good road trip and that’s exactly what they did

Erik: That first win in San Jose certainly set the tone for the rest of the trip. Tampa Bay was relentless in their pursuit of the puck, using their speed and quickness to their advantage getting right on top of the puck every time the Sharks tried to make a play. It reminded me of watching the 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins in how aggressive they were on the puck carrier. I think winning that first game of the trip was important on a couple of levels, outside the obvious of getting two points – it allowed the coaching staff to spread the minutes out knowing they were playing the next night in Los Angeles which in turn helped them in that second game to play well in front of Peter Budaj to earn him his first victory of the season in his third start.

Greg: The speed is becoming a problem for a lot of teams. That second line continues to compliment the first line so well. The defense is actually contributing offensively which is scary. And what more can you say about the goaltending. It was again really good on this road trip. This team has been playing lights out since the second half of last season and it doesn’t look like they are going to slow down. Bring on Ben Bishop and the Stars Thursday night! .

Erik: Thursday is going to be in interesting night, for sure, with Bishop making his return for the first time since he was traded in February. Can’t wait to see some of the signs in the stands, the video tribute John Franzone and his crew from Lightning Vision have in store as well as the reception he’ll get when he is announced as the starter in net for Dallas. I’m also interested to see how Tampa Bay responds to returning home for a three-game stand (which are the last three home games for November, by the way) as the old adage in hockey is the first game back from an extended road trip can be difficult to play. Perhaps the emotion of facing Bishop will counteract that adage.

Greg: He’ll be motivated for sure but so will Vasilevskiy. He’s playing as well as Bishop did two years ago for the Lightning when he was an MVP candidate. Look, at some point the Bolts will start to come back to earth just a little but right now they are on a roll. They have the type of team that doesn’t allow for long losing streaks. That’s because of their elite goaltending. As long as he continues to play at this level his team won’t lose too much ground in the standings.

Erik: I’ve referenced a couple of times in the early stages of the season that there is a 2014-15 vibe to this team right now, on a mission to prove that last year’s ultra-disappointing finish to last season is a motivation to improve this year. And as you mention this year’s team is built to avoid extended losing streaks, that 2014-15 team never lost more than two games of any sort (regulation/shootout) at any point during the season until the final two games of the Stanley Cup Final. Don’t know where this season is going to end, but the beginning has been something to behold.

Greg: And let’s face it health has been maybe the biggest reason this team is having so much success. We know the talent is there and now it’s actually getting an opportunity to showcase what they can do on a regular basis. There really is no weakness on this team and in a salary cap era that’s just not the norm.

Erik: Somewhere somebody is knocking on wood while mentioning your name, but your right, the depth has not needed to be tested to this point. At some point, that moment is coming. But let’s enjoy the ride of the wave the team is on. Until next week . . .

Or later this week on Lightning Power Play Live for some Great Hockey Talk™as the Lightning prepare for a two-game week, hosting Dallas on Thursday and the New York Islanders on Saturday.

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