The long wait seems to be almost over. No, we’re not talking about the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t played a game since last Sunday. We’re going back even farther, all the way back to December 12th, the last time J.J. Moser suited up for the Bolts. It was on that day, against the Calgary Flames, that the first-year Lightning defenseman was hurt and he hasn’t returned to the line-up since.
That’s about to change. At least, that’s what Moser is hoping. After the Lightning’s practice on Wednesday, he spoke to reporters and said, with a big smile on his face,
“The plan is to play the next game there is.”
According to assistant coach Rob Zettler, Moser was on the verge of returning before the break, but the coaching staff felt it was best not to take any chances, and to give him the extra thirteen days off. With the break over, the big question will be on how they integrate him into the line-up. Moser had been on the ice at practice over the last couple of weeks, and now it looks like it’s time for him back into game action.
Getting Moser back at this point in the season is akin to making a trade for a new player, with the advantage of Moser already knowing the system. Prior to getting injured, Moser had 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in 27 games. More than his offensive output, he was a steadying influence on Victor Hedman. For the first time in a couple of seasons, it looked like The Big Swede had a steady partner.
Prior to his injury the duo put up impressive numbers. They had a 3.72 goals-for-per-60 as a pair, while only allowing 1.97 goals-against-per-60 in their 274 minutes together at 5v5. Hedman and his current partner, Darren Raddysh, have been solid with a 2.70 GF/60 and 2.19 GA/60. While the first instinct would be to throw Moser right back out there on the top pairing, they may want to work him back into game action.
One of the ways they could do that is by rolling an 11/7 line-up and keeping everyone on the ice. That would also allow Coach Cooper to control his match-ups defensively, especially with the next three games at home. However, at some point, they’re going to have to make a decision on who to sit. Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak, who have been the team’s best defensive pair with a 1.37 GA/60, aren’t going to be split up, so it’ll likely by between Nick Perbix and Raddysh.
Or, maybe, just maybe, Emil Lilleberg is the odd-man out. It’s been an interesting season for the 24 year-old, who is experiencing his first full season in the NHL. He’s provided a physical presence on the blueline, and has quietly put up 12 points, but he’s also been on the ice for more than a fair share of goals against. His 2.87 GA/60 while on the ice is the second-highest on the team among regular players. The Lightning are also giving up 26.51 scoring chances against while he’s on the ice, the highest among defensemen.
Moser is a natural left-shot defenseman, and having him in the line-up in Lilleberg’s place would allow the Lightning to keep Raddysh and Hedman together while keeping Perbix playing as well. It would also give Coach Cooper three fairly strong pairings to roll out on a nightly basis, and he could balance the minutes each pairing plays, which, considering how much Hedman played in the 4 Nations Face-Off would be nice.
If Coach Cooper decides to go back to the Hedman-Moser pairing, Perbix will likely be the odd man out on the right side, at least for the majority of the time. When everyone was healthy earlier in the season, they did a pretty good job of rotating Raddysh and Perbix in and out of the line-up. With Moser out, Raddysh has provided a little more offense, but Perbix has been a little more well-rounded.
Raddysh has been getting more time on the power play, though. That offense, including a shot that can touch 100 MPH, is something that Perbix doesn’t quite possess. With Moser providing a more defense-first approach when he returns, Coach Cooper might choose the offense Raddysh can bring.
Having too many NHL-caliber defensemen on a roster is a good problem to have, and it sure beats the alternative. We’ll have a better idea of how they’re going to make it work the closer we get to Sunday’s game against the Kraken.
