Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2021 13:43:00 GMT -6
Well, that was a preseason that caught everyone in Tampa Bay by surprise. The Bolts put up a sterling 1-10 record, with issues mounting throughout the lineup. For starters, a team drafting a goalie and two defensemen in the first three rounds need to be able to rely on its defense. So when said goalie can't produce league average goaltending, the team is in trouble. To make matters worse, the Lightning failed to convert on the mediocre number of shots that they were able to generate. All told, weak goaltending and weak offense is not a pleasant combination.
The record has some questioning head coach Bruce Cassidy already. Cassidy attempted to split up Karlsson and Pietrangelo in the top four, explaining that he wanted to have two strong top pairs to defend the opposition. He also felt it would allow him to protect Hutton and Del Zotto by pairing them up with the big guns in the top four, leaving a very strong third pair of Murphy and De Haan. Cassidy's reluctance to change the defense pairings caught the ire of the fans and media as the losses mounted. Now it appears as though the team is practicing with a top pair of Karlsson-Pietrangelo and a second pair of Murphy-De Haan.
Up front, Cassidy tried a few different combinations with no success. It appears Forsberg and Hyman are the only ones generating shots, and even they can't convert. It will be a long season if the offense can't get going, but make no mistake, everything will live and die by the goaltending. This is Connor Hellebuyck's team whether he likes it or not, and without elite goaltending, they won't be going anywhere.
The record has some questioning head coach Bruce Cassidy already. Cassidy attempted to split up Karlsson and Pietrangelo in the top four, explaining that he wanted to have two strong top pairs to defend the opposition. He also felt it would allow him to protect Hutton and Del Zotto by pairing them up with the big guns in the top four, leaving a very strong third pair of Murphy and De Haan. Cassidy's reluctance to change the defense pairings caught the ire of the fans and media as the losses mounted. Now it appears as though the team is practicing with a top pair of Karlsson-Pietrangelo and a second pair of Murphy-De Haan.
Up front, Cassidy tried a few different combinations with no success. It appears Forsberg and Hyman are the only ones generating shots, and even they can't convert. It will be a long season if the offense can't get going, but make no mistake, everything will live and die by the goaltending. This is Connor Hellebuyck's team whether he likes it or not, and without elite goaltending, they won't be going anywhere.
