Tampa Bay Lightning Hope To Overcome Second Period Struggles

What is it about the second period? It's likely a combination of things.

In a number of games this year, the Lightning have allowed goals in bunches. On Tuesday night in a 6-1 victory against the Blues, they saw improvement. When they generate more shot attempts, they create more opportunities to score. It sounds simple, but it’s something the players are making an effort to be intentional about.

“It was a step in the right direction,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said of the win on Tuesday night. “I think when you look at a lot of the goals we scored, and we talked about it after the game, they maybe weren’t the prettiest goals but they were getting to those areas, getting guys in front of the net shooting pucks and not just looking for the better play. That's something that we're guilty of at times.”

“We have some high-end skilled guys where you're looking for that backdoor play. We're definitely capable of scoring and we've seen a few nice goals this year for sure… but on a constant, it's tough to replicate that every single night.”

The Lightning want to get back to the basics of getting pucks on net and simplifying their game.

“I think Kuch’s goals were a perfect example of that too, right? Get to the middle the ice, shoot the puck with some guys in front of the net and good things are going to happen. So hopefully we can kind of snowball on that.”

It’s been a season of second period struggles and it's an area they know they have to work through. At times you’ll see a glimpse of the Lightning team everyone knows and loves, but that can fade quickly. Turnovers lead to odd-man rushes that almost always end up with the puck going in the back of their net. Sometimes the hole is too deep for a third period comeback and other times they can make it happen. Over time that creates a mental component.

“It gets brought up and you're aware of it when it gets so bad at a point,” said Stamkos on the mental aspect of the second period. “You know, there probably are some other factors. I mean a long change has factored into that a little bit, where sometimes we get stuck in the D zone and it's tough for guys to get off.”

“I think it kind of just boils down to decisions that we're making with the puck, knowing that we have that long change. Sometimes it’s just getting the puck out and allowing it to go off the ice instead of trying to make a play and then guys are stuck on the ice. I think that's probably led to some chances against as well and then it's snowballed from there.”

On Thursday night they’ll face the Vegas Golden Knights at Amalie Arena. The Stanley Cup Champs are coming to town leading the league with 47 points. December is usually the month that the Lightning start to grab points of their own. Stamkos says they hope to build on what they did Tuesday night against the Blues. Puck drop is at 7pm.