By Jake Ricker
The Lightning faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks, looking to bounce back after two tough losses to start the road trip. Here are a few things we noticed from the Lightning's 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhakws.
Defensive mistakes
Offensively, the Lightning were good, but defensively, the Lightning had way too many breakdowns, leaving guys wide-open in front of the net. Take Chicago's second goal. Three Lightning players over-commit, leaving Nazar wide-open in the slot.
These things can not happen moving forward, and they have happened way too many times this season. While the Lightning were able to get out of the hole this time, playing from behind is not a good recipie for success.
Darren Raddysh
Raddysh has been up and down this season, having games where he looks great, especially offensively. However, tonight showcased the inconsistencies in his game. Raddysh finished the night with one assist but a -2 in the game. Raddysh too often found himself out of position, creating hard saves for Jonas Johansson. Raddysh was the skill to be a great bottom-six defender for the Lightning but he has to be more defensively responsible.
Power Play
The power play is the reason the Lightning won this game, going a perfect 3/3 on the night. The Lightning used multiple different looks to keep the Blackhawks guessing. Chaffee got some looks in the slot. Kucherov was on both the right and left sides, and Point mixed in at the bumper and the circle.
The Lightning made a great effort in the third period and were rewarded with two huge power plays, both of which they cashed in on. Kucherov, a big part of both, continues to show off his magic-like ability. If the Lightning power play can stay hot, along with better defensive play, they will be one of the best teams in the NHL.
Next, the Lightning will head to Detroit to take on the Red Wings for the second half of their back-to-back. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM EST on Saturday.
Want to start your journalism career by writing about the Tampa Bay Lightning? Send us a message via our contact form located in the upper right-hand corner under the more tab, or send us a message via Twitter to get started.
Comments