Practice? We’re talking about practice?
Yup. That’s what we’re talking about. Mainly because the Tampa Bay Lightning have had a couple of days off, and based on their performance over the past two games, needed some time together to get back to being the Lightning we saw over the last month or so. One way the Lightning are going about that is mixing up the lines a little.
#GoBolts lines today, Bjorkstrand in top six blue: Guentzel-Point-Kucherov Hagel-Cirelli-Bjorkstrand Goncalves-Gourde-Paul Girgensons-Glendening-Chaffee Hedman-Moser McDonagh-Cernak Lilleberg-Raddysh Perbix
— Benjamin Pierce (@boltsben.bsky.social) March 10, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Before we dig too much deeper we will acknowledge that practice lines don’t necessarily mean that’s what the Lightning will go with in their next game. That goes doubly so for road games considering Coach Jon Cooper’s fondness for 11/7 line-ups away from Amalie Arena.
Based on what they did yesterday at practice there were no surprises on the top line or the fourth line, but a little bit of mixing on the second and third lines from what we’ve seen since they acquired Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The big change is with Bjorkstrand. For the majority of his first two games with the Bolts he’s played on a third line with Gourde and Gage Goncalves. It’s only been about 12 minutes of 5v5 ice time, but the results haven’t been spectacular (23.67 xGF%, 16.67 SF%, 14.29 SCF%).
In an attempt to spark the offense against the Bruins he was bumped up to the top line with Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel. In their 5:22 of ice time together the trio clicked as they posted a 10-1 shot attempt advantage, and a 3-1 edge in scoring chances. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to any goals and Tampa Bay fell 4-0 to Boston. Despite that success in a limited time, it looks like Coach Cooper isn’t ready to commit to moving Bjorkstrand to the top line just yet.
Having him on the second line is still a nice step. He gives Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli a more consistent scoring option than Nick Paul. There has always been a bit of an overlap in skills with Paul on that line and moving him off of that alleviates that redundancy, and Paul isn’t a natural shooter. Bjorkstrand can also assist Hagel with zone entry duties giving the Lightning a couple of options of getting set up in the offensive zone.
When they’re set up, Bjorkstrand can either shoot or set up the defense for shots. Hagel can create the chaos he normally does and help retrieve pucks to maintain possession. That gives Cirelli the opportunity to do what he does best, get in front of the net (or crash into it), and go for rebounds or deflections. Bjorkstrand was brought in to help with offense and bumping him up to the second line gives him that opportunity. It also strengthens the defense of that line. That trio will be all over the ice, forcing teams to work hard to get the puck out and up the ice.
Moving Paul and his 13 5v5 goals gives that third line a little offensive boost as well, something they need. It seems Gage Goncalves is developing as a table-setter more than a finisher so having Paul on the line will help him. Gourde is Gourde. His scoring skills aren’t what they were during his first run with the Bolts, but like Cirelli, he does his best work in front of the net.
The fourth line is the fourth line. They’ll muck it up and limit offensive chances for both teams.
Is this the best line-up for the Lightning with their current roster? Maybe. The top line has generated the most offense for Tampa Bay as they’ve posted a 3.78 GF/60. It’s also one of the top lines in the NHL (that have played 300 minutes together), as they rank fourth. So, the offense is there, but they also allow 2.41 GA/60. It’s in the nature of their make-up. Their creativity with the puck leads to a lot of goals, and a lot of turnovers.
Do you know what combination has the second highest GF/60? The Hagel-Cirelli-Kuckerov line. They’re at 3.4 GF/60 in 194 minutes of time together. What they shed in offense, they more than make up for in defense as they’ve posted a 1.54 GA/60 in their time together. The defensive prowess of Hagel and Cirelli help belay some of Kucherov’s over-creative moments.
Bjorkstrand played pretty well with the top line in his brief cameo and it might be worth exploring in the future to see if he can keep it going. That’s what the next twenty games is for. The Bolts need to lock up their playoff spot, fight for the division, and figure out what combinations are going to work in the playoffs.
Another note from practice is that Bjorkstrand joined the top power play unit. He gives them the elusive right-hand shot they’ve been missing since a certain player left in the summer. Victor Hedman, who was at practice and is a game-time decision, now has another viable option to dish the puck off to from the point. Other teams have to respect Bjorkstrand’s shot, which should give Point more room in the slot/bumper position. Kucherov has another option to pass to as well while Jake Guentzel can do what he does, which is show up in spots to score goals.
The Lightning have the pieces to contend, now it’s up to Coach Cooper and his staff to figure out how to put them together to be their most effective.
