No Point for Lightning in Game 2; Can Panthers take advantage this time?

Without Brayden Point in the lineup for Game 1, and with Erik Cernak leaving during that contest, the Lightning still beat the Panthers on Tuesday. Jon Cooper indicated that, while Cernak should be good to go, Point won’t play in Game 2.

Zach Bogosian, another banged-up Bolts blueliner, is also expected to be available.

While the Lightning’s practice lines looked like this, it wouldn’t be shocking if Tampa Bay once again opted for 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Game 2.

#Bolts practice lines:

Stamkos-Cirelli-KucherovPalat-Paul-KillornHagel-Colton-PerryMaroon-Bellemare-Nash

Hedman-CernakMcDonagh-RuttaSergachev-Foote#TBLvsFLA

— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) May 18, 2022

Truly, it’s impressive that the Lightning stifled the Panthers to such a degree in Game 1.

Even considering how flat Florida sometimes felt vs. the Capitals, Tampa Bay was banged-up, and they have to be tiring a bit after playing so much hockey trying to three-peat.

Honestly, it keeps bringing me back to questions about whether interim Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette is making the right adjustments.

In this recap of Game 1, I pondered some of the Panthers’ issues creating speed through the neutral zone, and chances off of the rush. Both the Capitals and now the Lightning are clogging them up.

On one hand, plenty of teams struggle to beat the trap. That’s particularly true against a playoff-tested, veteran team like the Lightning.

“Obviously they’re a great team and they force you to do the little things right the whole game,” Brunette said, via Chris Krenn. “They’re patient enough and they’re smart enough that they wait you out a little bit.”

When the chips are down, TBL's 1-1-3/1-3-1 gave up nothing off the rush.

TOR wound up dumping the puck in at