Brick by Brick: Bolts Below Average Season Not Unexpected

The Tampa Bay Lightning will not be playing in the playoffs for a second consecutive season.  We know this, the players know this and anyone who can interpret a standings board knows this.

Since players are human, it is understandable to see their results sagging in these “played for pride” games.  Saturday’s rally against the Capitals was a good example of this team’s talent level. But let’s not forget that they were down 5-1 in that game,  lost 6-2 to Pittsburgh on Thursday and 3-1 to Buffalo on Sunday.  That’s just not good enough…plain and simple.  We’ve already seen one player, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, goalie for the Colorado Avalanche, rip his team for what he perceived as “mailing it in.” (Photo/Susan Ferlita)

Here are a few reasons why that is not what’s happening in Tampa Bay:

• New coach.  As simple as the game may seem; pass, shoot, score, there is still an adjustment period when a new coach is hired.  Jon Cooper’s systems may not be in place, or perhaps just partially in place. Without a training camp or a few practices, the players may fall into bad habits from time to time.
• The kids.  There are a lot of young guns on this team, and despite their talent level, they don’t know what it takes to win in the NHL on a nightly basis.
• The schedule.  This affects goalie Ben Bishop specifically.  He’s been as porous these past few games as he was magnificent after his arrival.  It’s clear that he ran out of gas after starting six games straight, but Cooper really had no choice.  Mathieu Garon has been bad and will not be on this team next year. The best way for a young goaltender, like Bishop, to grow is with nightly NHL experience.

This team simpoly wasn’t that good to begin with.  Most fans had high hopes entering this season, or at least playoff hopes.  GM Steve Yzerman had addressed the problems that plagued the Lightning the previous season (defense and goaltending) by acquiring defensemen Matt Carle and Sami Salo along with goaltender Anders Lindback.  While the top defensive pairings improved, the bottom of the blueliners proved to be a disaster.  Brian Lee (-13 rating and no points in 22 games), Brendan Mikkelson and Marc-Andre Bergeron gave way to rookie Radko Gudas.  While Gudas has been solid, it’s easy to see that the defense is not yet a cohesive unit.  It may come together with a normal offseason, but Yzerman needs to acquire another piece or two.

The goaltending has been somewhat improved, but not drastically (3+ goals against in 26 of 42 games, 61% of all games, so far).  Lindback and Bishop are as green as the promising young forwards.  Unfortunately, when Lindback and Bishop make mistakes, it is greatly amplified due to their position.  Garon is a career backup and was never going to be a savior for this team when Lindback went down with an injury.

All signs are pointing up for this hockey team, but with another season like this one, Yzerman should be sent packing.

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