Advertisement

Lightning likes its defense, wants more offense

 
In Tuesday’s overtime win in Calgary, Valtteri Filppula, left, gave the Lightning what it needs more of by scoring off a rebound. “We need some ugly goals,’’ says Ondrej Palat, who scored the winner off a rebound against the Flames.
In Tuesday’s overtime win in Calgary, Valtteri Filppula, left, gave the Lightning what it needs more of by scoring off a rebound. “We need some ugly goals,’’ says Ondrej Palat, who scored the winner off a rebound against the Flames.
Published Oct. 24, 2014

WINNIPEG — From day one of camp, Lightning coach Jon Cooper preached to his team being better protecting its own net.

And Tampa Bay has done just that, allowing 1.86 goals per through its first seven heading into tonight's matchup with the Jets. The Lightning's 24.9 shots allowed per game ranks fourth in the league.

The problem, however, has been putting pucks in the net. Aside from a seven-goal outburst against the Canadiens on Oct. 13, the Lightning (4-2-1) has a combined 14 goals in the other six. Seven goals have come on the power play.

Cooper said it just takes time, especially having several new players in the lineup, and all the line shuffling due to injuries.

"I'm not 1 ounce worried about us — eventually when we get in synch with our offense, I think we'll score goals," Cooper said. "But I'd be a lot more worried if the games were 6-5 and 7-6 than 2-1, 3-2."

The Lightning has had to mix in new forwards, free agents Brenden Morrow and Brian Boyle, along with prospects such as Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Connolly and Jonathan Drouin.

"Everyone is trying to gel," Johnson said. "We're pretty banged up, lines are being shuffled around. But you can't make excuses. We've got to play better. It starts with that effort level, you have to have that will to score, and right now we don't quite have it."

Cooper said the biggest key is getting traffic in front of the net, hoping his team learned a lesson from Tuesday's 2-1 overtime victory over Calgary when its goals came off rebounds. For the first 58 minutes, Tampa Bay was one-and-done on shots on goalie Karri Ramo. But Valtteri Filppula forced overtime by knocking in a rebound from a Jason Garrison shot, and Ondrej Palat put in the winner after an Anton Stralman point shot.

"That's how it works," Palat said. "We need some ugly goals."

It doesn't help that the Lightning is missing two gritty forwards who usually play big in front of the net in wings Alex Killorn (upper body injury) and Ryan Callahan (lower body). Killorn returned to practice Thursday, saying he feels fortunate he wasn't hurt worse when he slid hard into the boards during Monday's morning skate. He said his skate caught the ice when accepting a pass on a two-on-one drill, lost his balance and hit his head/shoulder into the boards. Killorn said he didn't experience concussion symptoms and feels better, though he likely won't play tonight.

"It was really scary," Killorn said. "You kind of feel helpless when you're falling and you can't get up. Lucky enough I was able to protect my neck and, for the most part, my head."

Without Killorn and Callahan, who probably won't play this weekend, Cooper said the Lightning is a "lighter team."

"We have guys that like to puck possess and handle it," Cooper said. "But when we go to the net, things happen. It's not just a few guys' job on the team to go to the front of the net, it's everybody's job."

On Track: Defenseman Radko Gudas, out since Oct. 14 with a lower body injury, participated in his first full practice Thursday, saying he's ready to play tonight. Defenseman Luke Witkowski was reassigned to Syracuse in the American Hockey League.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.