Tampa Bay Lightning Streak: The Low-Risk Approach That's Generating A Zillion Chances
For months, the Tampa Bay Lightning had struggled to find their footing on the power play. But in a thrilling 5-4 overtime win against Dallas, Brandon Hagel finally broke through with his first goal with the man advantage since March 2024 - albeit one that was ruled a no-goal initially. The team's newfound low-risk style has paid off handsomely, yielding a plethora of scoring chances and propelling them into a four-game winning streak.
The turning point for the Lightning came when coach Jon Cooper made significant changes to his team's approach. "We've taken so much risk out of our game," he said, noting how this shift in mentality has trickled down through the roster. By adopting a more disciplined and responsible style, the Lightning have been able to limit their opponents' scoring chances and create numerous opportunities for themselves.
One key factor behind the team's resurgence is their ability to quickly move the puck out of the defensive zone. "The 'D' is doing an incredible job of getting the puck up the ice," said forward Brandon Hagel, who attributed this to the defensemen's efforts to distribute the puck effectively. As a result, the forwards have been able to maintain their speed and energy, leading to a rapid pace that has propelled the team into the top spot.
The Lightning's recent stretch of success has also been highlighted by milestones for key players. Nikita Kucherov recently reached 1000 points in his career, while Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli recorded their 800th and 300th points, respectively. These achievements have added to the team's momentum, making each win more enjoyable.
As the Lightning head into a challenging stretch of road games against Western Conference opponents, they will need to continue to maintain their low-risk approach while avoiding complacency. "It is a crazy game," said Cirelli, emphasizing the importance of staying focused and improving with each passing day.
For months, the Tampa Bay Lightning had struggled to find their footing on the power play. But in a thrilling 5-4 overtime win against Dallas, Brandon Hagel finally broke through with his first goal with the man advantage since March 2024 - albeit one that was ruled a no-goal initially. The team's newfound low-risk style has paid off handsomely, yielding a plethora of scoring chances and propelling them into a four-game winning streak.
The turning point for the Lightning came when coach Jon Cooper made significant changes to his team's approach. "We've taken so much risk out of our game," he said, noting how this shift in mentality has trickled down through the roster. By adopting a more disciplined and responsible style, the Lightning have been able to limit their opponents' scoring chances and create numerous opportunities for themselves.
One key factor behind the team's resurgence is their ability to quickly move the puck out of the defensive zone. "The 'D' is doing an incredible job of getting the puck up the ice," said forward Brandon Hagel, who attributed this to the defensemen's efforts to distribute the puck effectively. As a result, the forwards have been able to maintain their speed and energy, leading to a rapid pace that has propelled the team into the top spot.
The Lightning's recent stretch of success has also been highlighted by milestones for key players. Nikita Kucherov recently reached 1000 points in his career, while Victor Hedman and Anthony Cirelli recorded their 800th and 300th points, respectively. These achievements have added to the team's momentum, making each win more enjoyable.
As the Lightning head into a challenging stretch of road games against Western Conference opponents, they will need to continue to maintain their low-risk approach while avoiding complacency. "It is a crazy game," said Cirelli, emphasizing the importance of staying focused and improving with each passing day.