Boston Bruins: Top three ways to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning
By jc
The Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning square off for the first time this season. This will be the first big test of the season for the Bruins.
The Lightning return with virtually the same team that finished with 128 points last year. Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman lead the way. Brayden Point is also back from injury.
Even with all that talent, Tampa Bay did not get off to a great start this season. The Lightning are only 3-2-1 in their first six games. Nevertheless, Tampa remains the favorite to win the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins will have their hands full with Tampa on Thursday night. How can Boston protect their home ice with a win against the Lightning?
Keep Stamkos, Kucherov, and Point under control
Lightning coach Jon Cooper doesn’t hold anything back with his forward lines. He usually takes his best three forwards and plays them together on the top line.
Stamkos, Kucherov, and Point are a challenge for any defense. And the results prove it.
Stamkos and Kucherov each already have eight points in six games. Point, who only played three games this year, has two goals and an assist. It’s safe to say the trio is a threat to score on every shift.
Given this production, the Bruins can’t really expect to keep Stamkos, Kucherov, and Point off the scoresheet. There’s simply too much talent to handle.
Instead, the Bruins have to limit their impact on the game. They might get a goal, but the Bruins need to make sure Stamkos and Kucherov don’t go off for three points.
This is obviously easier said than done, but Boston has the defense and goaltending to make it happen.
Look for Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy to handle Tampa’s top line. Chara has the size, strength, and experience to match up with Stamkos and Kucherov. He’ll need to close their space in the defensive zone and be physical in front of the net.
The Bruins will rely on McAvoy to lead the breakout and start the transition game. He needs to be the one who retrieves pucks and makes that first pass to start the attack.
The responsibilities won’t be easy for Chara and McAvoy. Fortunately, they have strong goaltending to back them up.