There's no place like home for the Tampa Bay Lightning, losers of five straight on the road and seven of their last eight overall.
The Lightning's inability to perform on the road may have dealt a death blow in their attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Tampa Bay is tied with the NY Islanders for the worst road record in the Eastern Conference, 9-19-6.
If you look at the hockey club at home and on the road, it's almost a Jekyll and Hyde team. The Lightning score a little better at home, 2.91 goals a game to 2.44 on the road but it's really the defense and goaltending that is the difference.
The Lightning are fourth in the NHL in GAA on home ice, giving up a sparking 2.44 goals against. On the road, that number spikes to an astronomical 3.68 goals against, dead last in the league.
So what is it about the St. Pete Times Forum ice (18-8-6) that makes the Lightning play so much better defensively?
It really comes down to the players. A young roster of defenders with only one player over 30 (Mattais Ohlund), the Lightning are lacking experience behind the blueline.
Wi ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by JC De La Torre
None for the Road: Tampa Bay Lightning Road Woes Hurting Playoff Hopes
March 12th, 2010 by JC De La Torre Leave a reply »
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