The Tampa Bay Lightning have struggled to start the season. They have collected six of a possible 12 points but only had two until last weekend. There are many culprits during this slow start, yet five stand out significantly.
As the Bolts embark on their California trip, I give you five of my early-season thoughts regarding the 2022-2023 Tampa Bay Lightning.
Steven Stamkos Looks Like a Man on a Mission
Not long after losing the chance at a rare three-peat and facing inevitable changes, Stamkos was almost defiant in saying he didn’t think the Lightning were done winning championships.
He has backed that up early this season with seven goals and nine points in the team’s first six games. Both totals lead the Bolts.
Defensive Pairings Continue to Be in Flux
Six games into a new season, the Lightning still haven’t solidified their defensive pairings.
Top defenseman Victor Hedman has skated alongside the young Cal Foote and the more seasoned Erik Cernak. Conversely, Mikhail Sergachev has skated with Cernak and rookie Nick Perbix.
The bottom pairing has consisted of newcomers Ian Cole, Philippe Myers, and Haydn Fleury.
During the season-opening road trip, Myers and Fleury were paired together. Upon returning from his suspension, Cole was inserted into the lineup. He played with Perbix in the young man’s first NHL game before being paired with Myers in recent game action.
Fleury has struggled outside of the second game this season, a 5-2 win in Columbus. That’s led to him being scratched in the last three games.
Faceoffs Getting Better Despite a Poor Start
When it was announced prior to training camp that Anthony Cirelli would be out until late November or December due to offseason shoulder surgery, the Lightning had to rely on others to step up in the faceoff dot.
After a brutal start to the season, the team has gradually improved. The numbers bear this out, as they began 2022-2023 with a faceoff percentage below 40 percent in the first three games. The past three games have seen a marked improvement, with the Bolts winning over 50 percent of faceoffs.
Once Cirelli returns, it will provide another option in the faceoff circle. That will help the team going forward.
5-on-5 Scoring Showing Signs of Life
Early on, the Lightning relied on the power play and Stamkos to score all of their goals. That wasn’t a recipe for success, evidenced by their losing record through four games.
Finally, Brayden Point broke through with two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to propel the team forward.
The next night, the Bolts scored five even-strength goals in a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
All four lines contributed, with a few players (Alex Killorn, Nick Paul, and Brandon Hagel) earning their first goal of the season.
While this one game is a small sample size, it’s a step in the right direction for a team still trying to establish an identity after an offseason full of key departures.
Andrei Vasilevskiy Is Only Human
This season, there were questions regarding Andrei Vasilevskiy’s ability to make save after save when facing high shot volumes.
He shut those down, for the most part, making 36 saves on two occasions (@New York Rangers and @Florida Panthers). His second loss of the season came on a defensive miscue where he had little chance to react.
In essence, Vasilevskiy is still capable of bailing his team out during games. They have to give him a chance to see the puck and adjust his positioning accordingly. Lots of turnovers make him look human, something that could come back to bite the Lightning down the road.
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