From Hockey to Hollywood (About Me) - Book #2

What's Wrong With the Lightning (Rant on 1/24/17)

Let me tell you what's wrong with this team.

First of all, I love this team and I'm sticking with them through good and bad. I am not leaving them, until there is decent reason to (if this team morphs into the Montreal Canadiens per-se, but under Vinik it ain't happening)

Second of all, I promise it's actually really not because of Bettman or Buttman. (Though that MIGHT be a part actually.)

So with that in mind...

There are THREE major reasons:

1. Missed chances to bury the puck - Filppula is the main call out here with his 20 something open net chances and he's only buried 1 of these all season. That's unacceptable!

2. Bad and REALLY Bad Defensive Breakdowns - Garrison, Sustr, Coburn, NESTEROV!!

3. Pressure/Overworking of the poor goalies - Why the H-E-Double Hockey Stick would you play your future goalie/backup to Bish TEN TIMES IN A ROW????

I honestly could add "ref calls"/"shitty penalties", injuries to a BUNCH of players, or the common complaint of "don't shuffle the dang lines each game, Cooper" - but I feel like these ACTUALLY have NO influence on the team, since they went through this stuff last year. So, Cooper maybe going, "Oh! Jo-Vladdy-Kuch worked last game, let's break them up and form a Pally-Vladdy-Killer line" or something like that, is bad, I don't think THAT's the reason the Lightning are losing.

Also, I'm not fond of Vladdy with Filppula. Fil is teaching him how NOT to play. I wanna punch a wall!

Speaking of Fil, Jo-Boyle-Fil worked as a dynamic line ONCE for a little bit until Boyle got hurt. It hasn't worked since, so WHY is this still a line right now? Jo is the ONLY one doing something!!

Key word: CONSISTENCY!

Triplets are nice every once and a while as a surprise to the opposing team, but not every game. Also it's smart to put them together randomly DURING the game, not before. Think about it, the set lineups help the other team prepare right. Well, how about taking them off guard with the Triplets coming together? Eh? Secret weapon line!!

But honestly, let's be real here, they don't have it consistently this year to be that threat...

Granted the ONLY threat I've seen this year is Jonathan Drouin.

Oh...those hands...mmmm

*Vladdy looks at me, scoldingly*

Uh, right, um. And maybe the consistent effort of Vladdy Namestnikov.

The young guns are doing it: Vladdy and Jo and poor Brayden before Montreal...

So...let's review and rant about some players now:

Nikita Kucherov:

You're suppose to be going bar down, sniping wicked shots left and right. You might be leading the team in goals, but you've been hot and VERY cold. We need you to start SCORING more. Not talking hat tricks each night, though you really could, but at least one or two a night is nice.

Ondrej Palat:

You've warmed up lately, but we kinda needed you in December, man. Also, gonna need you to stop turning the damn puck over!

Tyler Johnson:

Need more speed and goals from you man! Maybe it's because you're reduced to playing with Killer - who REALLY isn't worth what he got...honestly guys - and Condra. He needs and thrives with BETTER line mates and this current combo he's been with...WOOF! Ouch.

Vladdy Namestnikov:

You gotta bury those chances, dude. If you just had more accuracy, you'd have more goals and people/fans would like you more. Also, let's not forget that YANNI GOURDE has 14+ goals and is leading his team. You have 6 or 7...please get the hardcore scowl off of that pretty face and do a smiley one! I miss rookie, cheery, I love this Vladdy!! Lighten. Up. Namestnikov.