Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers: ROUND 1, GAME 6
Time: 8:00 PM Eastern Time
Location: Amalie Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: CNBC, TVAS2, BSSUN, BSFL, SN360
Opponent SBNation Site: Litter Box Cats
Let’s start with the quote. After losing Game 5 by failing to meet the intensity brough by the desperate Panthers, Lightning coach Jon Cooper has “complete and utter confidence” his team will be able to close out this series. While he doesn’t go on to guarantee the series will be closed out tonight, we sure hope this thing doesn’t go to seven games.
#TBLightning Jon Cooper said he has “complete and utter confidence” they can close out this series. Talked about this team wanting to be special + go back to back. How their experience helps in these situations.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) May 25, 2021
The Lightning were the slower team in Game 5, lacking the urgency to dictate the pace of play, and getting caught flat-footed for penalties that ultimately was the team’s undoing. The Lightning had a good start to the game last time, but the issue was keeping that energy up throughout the rest of the night. That’ll be a key to win.
“We’ve got to take less penalties. It’s killing us, and for whatever reason, they must not take very many. They do a good job because it seems like we’re the only ones taking them.”
ICYMI: Slow and undisciplined #Bolts waste great start in 4-1 Game 5 losshttps://t.co/diItWWG78j
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 25, 2021
Yesterday was an optional practice for the team, with scratches and only a couple regulars on the ice. The main development was the return of Barclay Goodrow to regular jersey status. Whether this means he’s in tonight or not, we’ll have to see at morning skate. At the very least he’ll be a game-time decision.
Barclay Goodrow one of the first players on the ice for #Bolts practice. He’s wearing a regular jersey.
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 25, 2021
Optional practice for the #Bolts today. Nine players on the ice, mostly scratches with a couple regulars Hedman and Gourde mixed in.
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 25, 2021
Everyone on the roster seems more-or-less healthy and the team doesn’t have any suspensions to deal with, so expect the same 11/7 lineup as Monday night to go again. Ditto for the Panthers, who would be silly not to run Spencer Knight again.
Tampa Bay Lightning Lines
Forwards
Ondrej Palat – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn – Anthony Cirelli – Steven Stamkos
Ross Colton – Yanni Gourde – Blake Coleman
Pat Maroon – Tyler Johnson
Scratched: Mathieu Joseph
Defense
Victor Hedman – Jan Rutta
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev – David Savard
Luke Schenn
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney
Florida Panthers Lines
Forwards
Carter Verhaeghe – Aleksander Barkov – Mason Marchment
Jonathan Huberdeau – Sam Bennett – Owen Tippett
Frank Vatrano – Alex Wennberg – Patric Hörnqvist
Ryan Lomberg – Noel Acciari – Anthony Duclair
Defense
MacKenzie Weegar – Anton Stralman
Gustav Forsling – Radko Gudas
Keith Yandle – Brandon Montour
Goalies
Spencer Knight
Chris Driedger
