Seven games into the grind that is the NHL season, and the first place Tampa Bay Lightning have sent a shot across the bow of the rest of the teams in the league.
Tampa Bay is off to a 5-1-1 start, their best since the Stanley Cup championship season of 2003-04, when they began 7-1-1. They lead the league in points (technically tied with the defending champion Blackhawks at 11, but Chicago has played two more games). They're also second in scoring, second on the Power Play and 11th in the penalty kill. The Lightning's Steven Stamkos even leads the league in goals and points.
Not too shabby for a young hockey team with nine new faces on the ice, a first time GM and a coach that is in his first NHL season after a successful run in minor league hockey.
Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher preached patience to the fans of this hockey team. They were learning a new system and each other. There were bound to be confounding mistakes and tough games.
Yet the young Lightning have taken to Boucher's unique 1-3-1 forechecking system, which has provided the Bolts offensive weapons with a ton of scoring opportunities. Stamkos has adapted the fastest, ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by JC De La Torre
Early Returns Are Good for Young Tampa Bay Lightning
October 23rd, 2010 by JC De La Torre Leave a reply »
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