With the Tampa Bay Lightning’s slow start, the fans and social media are in an uproar slinging all kinds of reasons about, many without any factual evidence. Is it the poor power play? Is it a tired and overworked Ben Bishop? Is it because of all the road games to start the season? How about the tougher schedule? Is that the reason for the bad start?
Let’s look at some of these “reasons” more closely and factually.
“Bishop needs to be better and is being overworked because of Andrei Vasilevskiy‘s injury.”
Wrong.
Last season through 14 games, Ben Bishop was 8-2 in 12 games played and had a 2.41 GAA and a .914 SV%. This year, Big Ben has garnered a better 2.34 GAA and .917 SV% in the same 12 games.
“The Lightning power play is terrible.”
Wrong.
Through 14 games last season, the Bolts’ power play was clicking 15.87% of the time while the league average was 18.3%. This season’s power play is scoring 20% of the time, which is well over the league average of 18.9%.
“The Bolts are playing a much tougher schedule than last year.”
Not so far.
Yes, while last seasons strength of schedule rank was 30th out of 30 teams and this years strength of schedule is 13th of 30, Tampa Bay has played the same amount of playoff teams (6) up to this point. While the tougher schedule may play into their season at a later point, it really hasn’t so far.
“The Bolts have played many more road games this year.”
True. But…
Their road record is very similar to last year and they’ve earned more points. Last year through 14 games the Lightning played six road games and earned a 4-2 record and eight points, while this season, they have played nine games away from Amalie Arena and have come away with a 4-3-2 record and 10 points.
Where can the Lightning improve then?
Lets start with the penalty kill.
Last season through 14 games, Tampa Bay’s penalty kill percentage was at an other-worldly 89.27%, well above the league average. This years numbers are lacking. The Bolts have a 78.57% penalty kill, which is over 3% worse than the NHL average. Here is where the Bolts need to tighten up and get better. Goalie Ben Bishop needs to be their best penalty killer.
They need to put the biscuit in the basket, especially five-on-five.
Last season through 14 games, the Lightning scored 48 goals of which 38 (79.16%) were at even strength. This season they have lit the lamp only 34 times, with 25 (73.5%) being at even strength. The 34 goals scored this year are still above the league average of 32, but the Bolts’ roster boasts many talented forwards that should be scoring.
Let’s not worry yet.
Tampa Bay is 6-6-2 with 14 points. Good enough for third place in the Atlantic Division, behind only the red hot Montreal Canadiens (23 points) in points. The Habs will certainly come back to earth at some point. The Bolts are seventh in the Eastern Conference, four points out of second with 68 games left, 36 of them at home.
Tampa Bay is too talented up front to not pick up the scoring pace and the penalty kill will get better.
(Feature Photo/Getty Images)
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