“I mean, it's just the old cliche of process over outcome. That's the only way you can really look at it.”
The Lightning are only 10 days removed from their 8-2 win in Carolina, but they’ve struggled to find consistency so far this season. With 25 points at (10-10-5), they're two points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. This is all somewhat uncharted territory for the Bolts.
Regardless of points, the Lightning are a better team than they were at the beginning of the season. They lost Andrei Vasilevskiy for two months to back surgery and also took on a new defensive system that had an adjustment period. Creating chemistry with so many new players on the roster is important and 12 of the 23 at opening night weren’t on the team a year ago.
It’s a season full of adjustments, but the Lightning want to get back to basics.
“I mean, it's not going our way right now, that's for sure. There is that snowball effect sometimes, but that's when you have to be a professional and find a way to get through it,” said Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
The Bolts have been inundated by turnovers and they pay for them, when the puck ends up in the back of their net. Once the opposing team scores, it creates a snowball effect and makes it incredibly difficult for the Lightning to keep a lead.
“You go through different periods all the time throughout the season where things aren't going well. You just have to try and stop it as soon as possible and not let it drag on. You can't let it seep into the mindset of you know, ‘things just aren't going our way’ and feel bad about it. No one's feeling sorry for themselves. We'll find a way to respond.”
The leaders on the team know the recipe and they have seen it work time and time again. Their focus is to get back to basics and simplify their game.
“It's just the old cliche of process over outcome. That's the only way you can really look at it.”