Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning knew there would be more questions than answers early on. Many expected the team to struggle when it came to getting off to a quick start, especially given the roster turnover this past offseason. With that in mind, a 3-1 start is encouraging and provides glimpses of what this team can achieve going forward.
One of the biggest questions heading into the season was how Jake Guentzel would fit on the top line alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Through four games, the answer has been very good. While he only notched his first goal of the season in Saturday’s loss in Ottawa, his vision has led to a few big goals by his linemates.
Coming off of a season that saw him notch a career-high 144 points and win the Art Ross Trophy, Kucherov has seven goals and nine points in four games to start this season. Two of those goals have been game-winners, so it’s safe to say he’s elevated his game when the team needs it most.
Another huge question mark entering this season was how the Lightning’s special teams would fare. Four games in, one can see glaring issues. The penalty kill is tied for 24th out of 32 teams, killing off 73.3 percent of the penalties called against them, an alarming statistic considering the addition of Ryan McDonagh to a kill that finished last season in the top 10.
Without Steven Stamkos, the power play was always going to be a work in progress. However, with Kucherov, Point, and defenseman Victor Hedman still in the mix, this team should not be converting at only 12.5 percent. More importantly, wasting both opportunities with a two-man advantage is concerning, to say the least. Allowing a shorthanded goal while up a man is unacceptable and, in many cases, costly. The Lightning found that out firsthand, as a shorty proved to be the game-winning goal in their first loss of the season against the Ottawa Senators.
For a team that entered this season with a lot of changes on the ice, Hurricanes Helene and Milton threw quite the one-two punch to the Tampa Bay Area. Could this team overcome the adversity of having a preseason game canceled twice and having to spend a week in two different North Carolina hotels, not knowing what they would come home to? Give the guys credit. They took everything in stride, giving fans back home a reprieve from the stress of the past few weeks by coming back to win.
Upon returning home after the season-opening victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, players found their homes without power and had to be put up in hotels or stay with teammates until power was restored. Through it all, the team maintained their focus on the ice while also keeping a perspective of the big picture. With the community they represent at the forefront, they took to home ice for the first time on Tuesday, October 15 against the Vancouver Canucks. Introductions were highlighted by the team’s new captain, Hedman, skating out and holding a blue flag that proclaimed “Tampa Bay Strong”.
Once the puck dropped, the team was ready to play. Kucherov scored the first goal less than five minutes in, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was on point again, allowing one goal against. The Vegas Golden Knights came to Tampa on Thursday night, October 17, and looked to be headed for a win over the Bolts until the final two and a half minutes of regulation. Brandon Hagel shot the puck on net, with Nick Paul screening Golden Knights netminder Adin Hill, and the score was tied at 3. Then, with time winding down, Kucherov shot the puck from a bad angle, and it found its way past Hill for an improbable comeback that sent fans home happy once again.
Can the Lightning continue their hot start or will they fall into bad habits, ultimately costing them games? While unknown, this team will need to continue scoring 5-on-5 and special teams must be better.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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