Save up to 60% in the Shop.NHL.com Outlet

Monday 13 April 2015

How the Red Wings can beat the Lightning

The Detroit Red Wings face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning this week in the NHL Divisional Semifinals and if the game results this season between these two teams have taught us anything it is that no one has an obvious advantage over the other. In the first game of the season, Tampa Beat Detroit in a shootout. The next two, Tampa Bay beat Detroit by 5-1 and 3-1 scores respectively. The last game saw Detroit win with a 4-0 result. While Tampa won the season series 3-1 the series nonetheless included two blowouts (one aside) and a shootout which portrays two teams evenly matched.
So far, not many commentators have given Detroit a chance to move on to the 2nd round. Granted, Tampa Bay finished the season with 3 wins in their last 3 games and finished 2 points behind the division-leading Montreal Canadiens; the Red Wings were 4-4-2 in their last 10 games and plagued by injuries and questionable goaltending. However, as always the NHL playoffs are an opportunity to try and leave regular season issues behind and start anew in the quest for the Stanley Cup. For this reason, the Red Wings-Lightning series is still a question mark and a battle in the making that could go to 7 games. But what needs to happen for the Detroit Red Wings to beat the Lightning and move on to the semi-finals?
Courtesy of: Detroit Free Press
Courtesy of: Detroit Free Press

Solid goaltendingThis seems like a no-brainer-every team needs their goalie to be dependable and stop pucks. But the lack of reliability between the pipes lately needs to end. Jimmy Howard has years of playoff experience under his belt but given his poor play as of late this does not guarantee that he will be the starter. It will be no surprise to the hockey world if rookie Petr Mrazek gets the nod for the kick-off against the Tampa Bay Lightning or if Howard is pulled early if he does start and lets in questionable goals.

Contain StamkosAnother one that could be viewed as a no-brainer. Captain Steven Stamkos is fast, smart, and dangerous with the puck. He placed 14th in the NHL overall in points with 72 (43G, 29A) and his play in the playoffs has been solid with 17 points (8G, 9A) in 22 total playoff games. Stamkos is 8th overall in the NHL for power play goals (13 this season) and with the Red Wings’ struggles while a man short already, work needs to be done in this area. His ability to shoot fast and take one-timers with ease makes him the threat that the Red Wings need to focus on limiting the most.

Capitalize on power playAt 24% for power play percentage and a league-leading 70 power play goals to finish the 2014-15 campaign, one would think that the Red Wings are primed to carry their puck luck on the power play into the playoffs. However, the team has struggled with a man advantage the last 5 games of the regular season, scoring 3 goals on 14 opportunities. While not horrible, the Red Wings need to play how they have all year on the power play, moving the puck fast and finding ways to get it to the net. Gustav Nyquist, who is tied for 3rd overall in the NHL for power play goals with 14, needs to find ways to get open and get some shots on net. Marek Zidlicky with his powerful point shot needs to do the same. Coach Mike Babcock may want to consider putting Justin Abdelkader on a power play line when he is healthy given his ability to create some traffic in front of the net and bang in rebounds.

Shake BishopTampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop had a great year finishing at 40-13-5 and placing 4th overall in wins. However, Bishop has no NHL experience and rattling him with lots of shots, Joe Louis Arena noise, and a crowded crease could prove to be the difference in this series. Petr Mrazek has no NHL playoff experience either so Tampa Bay will no doubt try to adopt the same strategy at the other end of the ice if he is named the starter.
Posted by at