Close Menu
Sportstalk
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Soccer
  • More
    • Nascar
    • Golf
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Football
    • Tennis
    • WNBA
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Sportstalk
  • NFL

    Chances are strongly moving to Shedeur Sanders to the Saints

    April 12, 2025

    Derek Carr’s injury opens the door to Saints to take SheDer Sanders at n ° 9

    April 12, 2025

    Patriots, ravens, commanders develop FSU K Ryan Fitzgerald

    April 11, 2025

    Jalen Pitre, Texans agree on a three -year extension

    April 11, 2025

    Report: The NFL is looking for Audio 911 of the latest Incident of Tyreek Hill

    April 11, 2025
  • NBA

    NBA: Nikola Jokic makes history and the Lakers seal third place

    April 12, 2025

    NBA: Jimmy Butler Marque 24 as Warriors Top Blazers – Inquirer.net

    April 12, 2025

    Knicks secures the head of n ° 3 at the Eastern Conference, to face the pistons in the first round

    April 12, 2025

    Orlando Magic vs Indiana Pacers April 11, 2025 Box Scores – NBA

    April 12, 2025

    Cavaliers vs knicks predictions: ratings, choice of experts, recent statistics, trends and best bets for April 11

    April 11, 2025
  • NHL

    Rust puts a new career in a career while the Penguins beat Devils, 4-2

    April 12, 2025

    Sam Rinzel plays far beyond his years with Blackhawks

    April 12, 2025

    The Hockey News Big Show: What is the future of Brock Boecks?

    April 11, 2025

    Alexander Nikishin released from the KHL contract, to sign a two -year ELC with Carolina Hurricanes

    April 11, 2025

    Three take -out dishes: the speed of the panthers clip wings, Samoskevich continues to impress

    April 11, 2025
  • MLB

    Metting notes: Pete Alonso plays freely, the Rally of Jose Siri’s walking

    April 12, 2025

    Yankees Buthury Tracker: Marcus Stroman undergoes tests on the left knee after the start of Friday

    April 12, 2025

    Gregori Arias of the Marlins Minor League is suspended 56 games for a positive screening test

    April 11, 2025

    Fantasy Baseball Bull Paccn Brief: Stash to consider and to narrower situations that have our attention

    April 11, 2025

    Braves by Ronald Acuña Jr.

    April 11, 2025
  • Soccer

    Soccer and automatic learning: 2 hot topics for 2018 – Data Central Science

    April 12, 2025

    Inter Milan makes the offer of PSG Target in the middle of Liverpool, AC Milan Interest

    April 12, 2025

    Nice ideas to enjoy the World Cup as a family – Salon.com

    April 11, 2025

    “Thuram is crazy! I don’t know how Barella does it”

    April 11, 2025

    No Lionel Messi, no problem while Argentina at the head of the Uruguay: the message of Six words from Scaloni says a lot with 2026 FI … – World football talk

    April 11, 2025
  • More
    • Nascar
    • Golf
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Football
    • Tennis
    • WNBA
Sportstalk
Home»NHL»5 burning questions as the Lightning head to the NHL playoffs
NHL

5 burning questions as the Lightning head to the NHL playoffs

JamesMcGheeBy JamesMcGheeDecember 16, 2023No Comments6 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
5aciduvihvawjmhnuu4hsjn6f4.jpg
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

TAMPA — The Lightning took a while to take advantage of their 5-0 victory against the Red Wings in Thursday night’s regular season finale at Amalie Arena.

They then turned their attention to what awaits them, a rematch with the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs starting Tuesday in Toronto.

“Everything will be fine,” coach Jon Cooper said. “This team knows how to play the game. We are going to face a very good opponent. These are two good teams who will play. We know each other quite well. At the end of the day, we just have to play, and we have a group of players in (our locker room).

As the Lightning prepare for the start of the playoffs, here are five burning questions for them:

What version of the Lightning will we see?

Lightning players celebrate after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of last season's first-round series.
Lightning players celebrate after beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of last season’s first-round series. (FRANK GUNN | Associated Press)

The Lightning struggled for consistency during the regular season, but they don’t have to be perfect against the Maple Leafs. They just have to be resilient. In the last three playoff series, they have rarely been beaten twice in a row, and that will be important. Keep in mind that last season, Tampa Bay lost the first game to Toronto 5-0 and never led the series until the end. The Lightning lost a one-goal game in Game 5 to lose 3-2 in the series, then scored a Brayden Point goal in overtime of Game 6 in Tampa before winning a closely contested Game 7. The Lightning knows it: the more they can sow doubt in the minds of the Maple Leafs, the better off they will be. Because the Maple Leafs’ biggest obstacle is overcoming their past playoff failures.

Can the Lightning overcome the Leafs’ home advantage?

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates a goal with right wing Mitch Marner (16) during Game 5 of last season's playoff series.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates a goal with right wing Mitch Marner (16) during Game 5 of last season’s playoff series. (NATHAN DENETTE | The Canadian Press via AP)

The Lightning haven’t been a good road team this season, going 18-22-1 away from Amalie Arena. They will therefore try to be physical from the first faceoff in Toronto, taking away space from Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander. They’ll want to make life uncomfortable for the Maple Leafs’ scoring stars, and the intensity of the playoffs usually allows for hitting hard, creating tighter spaces that give talented players less room to work. But Tampa Bay will have to walk the fine line between relying on its opponent and committing penalties, as its shooting on goal hasn’t been as consistent as in the past. Even at their best on the penalty kill, the Lightning won’t want to continue to put the Maple Leafs’ power play on the ice.

Stay up to date on the Tampa Bay sports scene

Stay up to date on the Tampa Bay sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis every day from the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida college football teams.

You are all registered!

Want more of our free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Will rest help Vasilevskiy return to playoff form?

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy remains the biggest game-changer in the playoffs.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy remains the biggest game-changer in the playoffs. (JEFFERE WOO | Times)

No player is more essential to the Lightning’s playoff success than goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. He remains the biggest game changer in the postseason. With five games left in the regular season, Cooper said Vasilevskiy had to play until the end, but the goaltender ended up getting three of the final four games. Rest before the playoffs can be a weapon, especially since Vasilevskiy has played in 71 playoff games over the past three seasons. The end of Vasilevskiy’s regular season was uneven. He has allowed 10 goals in his last two starts, both losses, after limiting opponents to just one in his previous three. A lot of that was due to the defense playing in front of him. In the past, Vasilevskiy and his teammates have managed to flip the switch early in the playoffs.

Where will the additional rating come from?

The Lightning's Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Nick Paul, center, celebrate with Ross Colton (79) after Colton scored against the Ducks during a February game in Tampa.
The Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Nick Paul, center, celebrate with Ross Colton (79) after Colton scored against the Ducks during a February game in Tampa. (DIRK SHADD | times)

History tells us that the Lightning stars will appear in the playoffs. Nikita Kucherov, Point and Steven Stamkos made a huge impact. But that may be where the loss of Ondrej Palat, who has 27 goals in the last three playoff series, will hit the Lightning hardest. Who will intervene in these moments when the big three are confined? This is an opportunity made for Brandon Hagel, who took a big step forward as a scorer with 30 goals in the regular season. But others will have to emerge from severe droughts. Nick Paul hasn’t scored in 26 games and has just one point in his last 18 games. Corey Perry has no goals and only one point in his last 25 games. Ross Colton, who scored huge goals in the playoffs, has only one goal in his last 18 games.

Which player will be an X factor?

Lightning defensemen Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Victor Hedman (77) prepare for a faceoff during a game against the Montreal Canadiens in March in Tampa.
Lightning defensemen Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Victor Hedman (77) prepare for a faceoff during a game against the Montreal Canadiens in March in Tampa. (LUIS SANTANA | Schedule)

Mikhail Sergachev has gradually become an elite defender this season. He knew he would have an expanded role with the departure of Ryan McDonagh in the offseason, and he handled the added responsibility well. Sergachev and Victor Hedman should have big moments in the playoffs. Sergachev is now the starting power play quarterback and his offensive game continues to grow. He set career highs in goals (10) and assists (54) in the regular season and led the team in average ice time (23:49). But his playoff run will likely be judged on what he does on the defensive end. He assumed McDonagh’s role as the team’s top shot blocker and finished second among Lightning defensemen in hits. He will play an important role in making the Maple Leafs’ top offensive stars uncomfortable with physical play.

Contact Eduardo A. Encina at [email protected]. Follow @EddieintheYard.

• • •

Sign up for Lightning Strikesa weekly newsletter from Bolts writer Eduardo A. Encina that brings you closer to the ice.

Never miss the latest with college sports from the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter And Facebook.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
jamesmcghee
JamesMcGhee
  • Website

Related Posts

Rust puts a new career in a career while the Penguins beat Devils, 4-2

April 12, 2025

Sam Rinzel plays far beyond his years with Blackhawks

April 12, 2025

The Hockey News Big Show: What is the future of Brock Boecks?

April 11, 2025

Alexander Nikishin released from the KHL contract, to sign a two -year ELC with Carolina Hurricanes

April 11, 2025
Add A Comment
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest

Stan Smith: Tennis Great deplores the sport that fights against “many of the same problems that we had 50 years ago” after the PTPA trial

April 12, 2025

Kansas’ state of women’s state basketball, Serena Sunday, receives the invitation to the draft of the WNBA

April 12, 2025

Metting notes: Pete Alonso plays freely, the Rally of Jose Siri’s walking

April 12, 2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from sportstalk

Share
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
Hot Categories
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Soccer
We are social
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest Sports news from sportstalk

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
© 2025 Copyright 2023 Sports Talk. All rights reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.