Subj : Lightnings 5 Keys to a Successful 2020-21 Season
To   : All
From : The Hockey Writers - Main
Date : Sun Jan 10 2021 04:40 am


With the start of training camp officially underway, the Tampa Bay Lightning
begin their quest to become the second team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions
in the salary cap era. Winning back-to-back Cups is already considered one of
the hardest feats in all professional sports and, combined with this year's
shortened season and likely more upcoming COVID-19 scheduling complications,
the 2020-21 season looks to be no different.

The Lightning spent the bulk of their offseason clearing up cap space so they
could sign their top free agents - Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak, and Mikhail
Sergachev - putting together the pieces to make another deep playoff run. While
this is certainly a step in the right direction, it will take more than free
agent signings if the Lightning want to become the first team in NHL history to
raise two Stanley Cup banners in the same calendar year.NHL commissioner Gary
Bettman presents the Tampa Bay Lightning with the Stanley Cup following their
series-winning victory (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Many things can happen during a shortened season, but the following will be
important keys for the Lightning to have a successful 2020-21 season.Survive
Training Camp Injury-Free

This may seem like a no brainer, but it cannot be stressed enough. After losing
Nikita Kucherov for the regular season, coming out of training camp injury
free will be huge for the Lightning heading into the 2020-21 season. The
compacted schedule will certainly take a toll on the players this season, so
coming out of camp with the team at full health will give the Lightning an
advantage to get off to a hot start that will be so crucial for division play.

The importance of a healthy Steven Stamkos is not lost on the team either.
After returning from a leg injury for three shifts during Game 3 of the Stanley
Cup Final, Stamkos scored one of the most inspirational goals in NHL history.
Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos celebrates with Kevin Shattenkirk, Brayden
Point and Nikita Kucherov (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Stamkos has scored better than a point-per-game average in each of the last
four seasons, making his health even more important when trying to find someone
to fill the void that losing Kucherov has created.Utilize Taxi Squad to Get
Younger Players More Experience

While the main rosters and taxi squads have yet to be announced, it will be
imperative that the Lightning utilize most every player at their disposal. The
2020-21 schedule will see 56 games in 117 calendar days - for an average of
almost one game every two days - basically an extended playoff format. The
grind that will come from playing meaningful games night in and night out will
likely take more of a toll on a player than in past seasons.

To combat this, the Lightning will need to roll their younger guys in and out
of the lineup consistently to allow them to gain NHL experience and offer
occasional rest to guys who are banged up. Whether guys like Mitchell Stephens,
Mathieu Joseph, or Alexander Volkov make the final roster, coach Jon Cooper
should dole out plenty of opportunities for minutes among guys who are able to
be plugged in wherever needed.Continued Production From the
Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman Line

No third line was better than the Barclay Goodrow, Yanni Gourde, and Blake
Coleman line for the Lightning in the 2020 Playoffs. Their line accounted for
33 of the Lightning's 218 points - 15% - and had a combined plus/minus of
plus-23 in 25 games played during the Cup run. Early reports from camp are
showing that Cooper has kept this trio together and, if they continue producing
where they left off this summer, they will likely dominate the Central
Division.Yanni Gourde led the Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman line with 14 points (seven
goals, seven assists) in the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Jess Starr/The
Hockey Writers)

Having three deep scoring lines was essential to the Pittsburgh Penguins' runs
of back-to-back Stanley Cups during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons - the only
team to have accomplished repeat championships during the salary cap era - and
for the Lightning to have a chance to raise another Cup, they will need their
third line to stay hot.Finish Top-2 of the Central Division

Not only do the Lightning have to contend with a more compact schedule, but the
2020-21 season will also include new divisional alignments - including both
teams from last year's Stanley Cup Final in the same division. With the new
divisions also comes a new playoff format. Teams will need to finish in the top
four of their divisions to qualify for the playoffs, with only one team from
each division advancing to the "Conference Final" round. These four teams will
be reseeded based on their regular season standings - meaning teams with the
better record from the regular season will have home-ice advantage.

In a year that will see limited travel throughout the regular season, having
home-ice advantage will be monumental during the playoffs. Even more so, if
Tampa is one of the few stadiums that will host fans in attendance during the
2020-21 season - once COVID-19 restrictions are again lifted. Imagine a team
playing four games on home ice in front of live fans while only having to play
three on the road in an empty arena during a playoff series - it is almost
unfair. Finishing in the top-two of the Central Division will put the Lightning
in a great position to have higher seeding during the final two rounds of the
playoffs.Get Kucherov Back to 100% in Time for Playoffs

Again, it';s another no-brainer to want to get your best scorer back in time to
make a push for the Cup. However, the Lightning need to be careful about not
rushing Kucherov back too soon. Tampa has invested in him for the long haul so
it would be wise for Julien BriseBois and Cooper to let him take his time
getting back on the ice. The team showed that they were able to be patient in
the past, not rushing Stamkos back too soon during the playoffs last year, so
there is reason to believe that they will continue that practice with Kucherov.

The good news is Brayden Point underwent a similar surgery two summers ago and
was back on the ice within six months - looking stronger and faster than ever.
That timeline would put Kucherov's return somewhere in May, right around the
end of the regular season. While a first-round return would certainly spark
extra life into the Lightning, having Kucherov at 100% health will be more
important for a deep Cup run.Tampa Bay Lightning Nikita Kucherov (AP Photo/Paul
Vernon, File)

The Lighting wrap up their training camp with an intra-squad scrimmage on
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at 7 p.m. - the scrimmage will be streamed live on
TampaBayLightning.com.

The post Lightning';s 5 Keys to a Successful 2020-21 Season appeared first on
The Hockey Writers.

������

https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/641273586/0/thehockeywriters~Lightnings-Keys-to-a
-Successful-Season/
--- SBBSecho 3.12-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (24:110/7)

You are viewing proxied material from freeway.apana.org.au. The copyright of proxied material belongs to its original authors. Any comments or complaints in relation to proxied material should be directed to the original authors of the content concerned. Please see the disclaimer for more details.