Game 43: Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals

by Cassie McClellan on Jan 14, 2012 9:38 AM EST in '11-'12 game recaps

The Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Washington Capitals 4-3.

This was another partial game by the Lightning. While I've accepted the fact that the second period simply will never be all that great for them this season, the first wasn't very good, either. Had the Lightning played better in the first period, the Lightning probably would've won this game.

The second of back-to-back games often isn't pretty, and this one was no exception. For much of the game, they looked disorganized, tired at times, and weak positionally at other times. The third period, they played fairly well - but they have a habit of playing well in the third period.

Perhaps the most surprising was the fact that, despite being tired, they tried playing a physical game. Playing physical will just wear you out faster, so it was puzzling to see. They weren't consistent about it, but the fact that did it at all is a head scratcher.

It was chippy, and it wasn't very pretty at times - particularly since the Lightning seem to have found this talent to be their worst enemy on the ice.

So far as statistics are concerned, the Lightning pretty well dominated this game. So the Caps weren't having their best night, either. It was definitely a winnable game for the Lightning.

And they almost came back to tie it in the third period, too. Had that empty net goal not happened, the Lightning would've at least pushed the game into overtime. Vincent Lecavalier made a valiant effort at the very end, and scoring a goal, but it just didn't happen.

It wasn't necessarily the best game for Dwayne Roloson. The first two goals for the Caps shouldn't have gone in. The second one, in particular, was due to Roloson trying to cheat his way into a save. After those first two, however, he settled down into a pretty good game. Not that he had much work - the Caps only ended up with 20 shots on the night.

The odd thing to see what that the team, as a whole, was not playing well positionally for stretches of a time. I realize that they were tired and all, but It was strange to see a hockey team at the NHL level to do. And because players weren't in their positions at times, they were scrambling to recover, and not playing their game due to that.

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Comments

I was very impressed with Boucher last year, and felt the Caps were outcoached like none other in the playoffs last year….but his tirade last night, crying about the back-2-backs and making excuses for the team was just a joke last night. He has to be on his way out, and he has lost that team.

I really like Stamkos, and think he is a class act…get rid of Boucher, and get some youth to play next to him…I would sell Vinny, Marty, Malone as quickly as possible this year.

by SA-Town on Jan 14, 2012 10:25 AM EST reply actions

Thank God you’re not Lightning GM.

But yes, Boucher has to stop with the excuses.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Every coach makes the same statements. Seriously.

Name me one head coach that’s better with the pieces Boucher has.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t want Boucher gone, all I want is less excuses, less “relentless”.

And more ice time to Connolly and Tyrell.That’s all.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

And he got this team (with a few changes in the off-season) to over-perform massively last season. I think I’ll give him some slack.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 1:59 PM EST up reply actions

That was last season. Aren’t we underperforming this year?

I don’t know why you brought up his results since I didn’t question his ability as a coach, I still think he’s very good. Just said he needs to talk a little less, that’s all.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

This opinion brought to you by the Washington Capitals.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

poor positioning has been a theme all season

Too many times they have shot the puck up to a point in the O-zone with nobody home, and then have to regroup at ceter ice or even go all the way back into their D-zone. On a PP, that is the same as a clear by the PK, and will kill 8-12 seconds if they can organzine a rush back to the other end. And quite often that rush is not organized, so their unintentional “clear” wastes closer to 20 seconds.

Those initial penalties last night were the main problem. St. Louis’s call was questionable, but things like that happen. But to spend most of the 1st 5 minutes of the game on PK is bad bad bad, and giving up 2 PP goals is worse worse worse.

No answers here, just a resignation that this team over-achieved last season (it was great), and it’s going to be a harder climb back than many of us thought last season.

SA-Town – I’m not sure you give up on the coach this quickly. I think I can allow for some frustrations from him once in a while. Trade VL? Who is going to take on his contract for what has become a 50-60 point guy? I understand that scoring is not everything in hockey, but the top players need to produce. Marty is getting old, might still have some gas left, but HE IS THE FACE OF THE FRANCHISE. If MSL wants to be traded, then fine. Otherwise he should be afforded to call his move.

Malone? Never have warmed up to him, so I’m ambivelent there. But all in all a couple trades is not going to change much right now. Just too many things not working well.

by tampa_edski on Jan 14, 2012 10:33 AM EST reply actions

PK is completely lost. The Caps spent all their PP time wide open, our guys just don’t know what to do, where to go. This diamond formation they’re trying to employ is way to easy to beat.

Connolly played under 9 minutes last night. Boucher, the season is over. Let the kid play!
Give Mikkelson a shot in a pair with Brewer, he can’t be any worse than Kubina. Let Tyrell play more time too, we have nothing to lose.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 10:51 AM EST reply actions

Yeeaaahhhhhh....

Boucher doesn’t need to go anywhere. Neither does Marty. If he wants a trade, he’s earned the right to have that request honored. Otherwise, he should retire a Bolt if that’s his choice. Deal with it.

No point in making major roster changes right now. I’m sure Yzerman’s working the phones, but he’s not going to force a trade. And nor should he.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 14, 2012 11:02 AM EST reply actions

This.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

I am thisclose to watching Bolts games just to root on Stamkos’ latest charge for the Richard trophy.

That’s about all that’s left for this season, other than to see how high of a pick we get. I wish I could be snarky about that—but that’s about where the teams is this season.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 11:44 AM EST reply actions

yep

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 14, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Nothing wrong with that, IMO. Why wouldn’t you? IF they go on that win streak, that’d be great, and I’ll be there if they do. Otherwise, I might as well get whatever enjoyment I can from the games, since I’m so obsessive that I have to watch them all just in case something good happens.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 14, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions

Re-post

I posted this after the Tuesday game….It still stands. After Guys presser last night even more so. He is full of excuses and its ending up is a lack of results. I like Guy but enough already.

OK…first I am not a Boucher hater but I do have one issue that is growing with what I hear from him.

Guy seems to like to suggest areas of excuses. As quoted above he talks about playing Vancouver with a lot of injuries. He has been relentless in the past talking about over coming injuries and bad luck of hitting posts, etc. I get it and I am not saying he is wrong however I am a coach too and I have to say when a coach even suggests those things they get in the teams heads as a built in excuse. We’ve heard the team say the same things as the coach. Yes they focus on overcoming them in the comments but I am absolutely 10000% positive that just having those concepts is dangerous and subconsciously gives an out and excuse.

I’d rather focus on the team we have the luck we do have and talk about improving. Anything else is lost effort and wasted breath and does permeate a team’s psyche. Every team hits posts and has injuries. The Pen’s lost Sid. Flyers lost Pronger and Giroux for a bit. They move on and focus on who is dressed not who isn’t.

Just my observations as a coach. Keep the team focused on the goal and don’t let them have a single peripheral thought they can’t afford the distraction.

by Barlow1 on Jan 14, 2012 1:02 PM EST reply actions

And the alternative is…what, exactly? Do you want to see him call players out in public? He won’t do that—except in rare circumstances (to wit: Teddy’s healthy scratch from earlier this year). He has to say something in the post-game press conferences.

If you could write his post-game press conference script, what would you have him say?

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

The alternative is talk less, almost nothing.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

that works too

by Barlow1 on Jan 14, 2012 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

how about stick to the things he can control rather than whining about that which he can’t. I don’t know act like they are paying him a bunch of money for a reason. Say "we did not come out in the first like we needed to and because of that we got behind. We are proving that we are not good enough to come from behind every night. We have to fix the way we enter games. We have to prepare better as players and as coaches." some thing like that rather than we got screwed with a bad penalty call like he basically said last night. He spoke of bad luck last night (as usual) he neglects to mention that the other team actually hits the posts too…Last night Semin hit two posts in about 10 seconds…no mention of that. This is why I say speak to that which he can control rather than looking like a victim.

by Barlow1 on Jan 14, 2012 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

How is playing more physical

Puzzling. The only chance these guys have if they start crashing the boards and digging. My hat off to Pierre Cedric Labrie for waking these guys up that you can get physical. He earned the extra ice time yesterday. It’s about time some of these guys start to crash the net. Yeah great goal at the end Vinny. Remember next time where you were positioned. Right in Vokouns lap. How about parking your big ass there a bit more often. You’re not the young finesse guy anymore but you still have some value left if you realize that fact. Same for you Malone and Purcell, crash the frigging net.
I’m also sick of reading all of the excuses following the game but I’m not so sure what Boucher says to the press is what he says behind closed doors. I would hope not as someone needs to rip some of these guys good.

by malapraxis on Jan 14, 2012 1:30 PM EST reply actions

All I was saying is that when you have a tired team, playing physical will wear them out faster.

"You don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." -Herb Brooks

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.

by Cassie McClellan on Jan 14, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

My hat off to Pierre Cedric Labrie for waking these guys up that you can get physical. He earned the extra ice time yesterday. It’s about time some of these guys start to crash the net. Yeah great goal at the end Vinny. Remember next time where you were positioned.

[ 2 ]

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not saying Marty and Vinny are the problem, they just serve no purpose on a non playoff team. The Caps had Backstrom and Green out, so Boucher shouldn’t bring up injuries. More crying in my opinion.

by SA-Town on Jan 14, 2012 1:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Go back to Japer’s Rink until you have substantive comments.

"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow."
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Jan 14, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

Please keep in mind that you are on the board of an opposing team. While nothing you’ve said has crossed the line, you are getting a bit close to trolling. Please don’t call my team’s players useless when you don’t know their history. Please don’t pass judgment on a coach you have no connection to. In other words, if you have an argument to make, do so respectfully. And provide evidence for your opinions. Remember we don’t know you or your intentions.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria maalivahteja Skandinaviasta.
Love is but a song we sing And fear's the way we die.

by CAustin on Jan 14, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

This.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

Before I forget

Huge kudos to Stammer for the way he stood up for Marty. That was great.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Isles and Canes won tonight, we’re 15th in the Conference, 27th in the league.

Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!

by Rafael Amarante on Jan 14, 2012 9:48 PM EST reply actions

Canes are now 4-0-0 against the Bruins and Canucks

I guess there’s something to be said for the target on your back, but sometimes it just gets ridiculous. I guess we’ve done pretty well against the Flyers, but not that well

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 14, 2012 10:45 PM EST up reply actions