Here are three keys to tonight's game:
1.) PENALTY KILL
If there is one weakness to the Tampa Bay Lightning it is their penalty kill, which is ranked 27th in the NHL. They have allowed 27 power play goals against while being shorthanded 125 times (78.4%). Their road penalty kill is actually worse at 77.6%. The Maple Leafs are a good penalty killing team overall, but are terrible killing penalties on home ice. Toronto has allowed 12 power play goals against while being shorthanded 52 times (76.9%). If either one of these teams wants to win the game tonight then one of the penalty kill units will have to step up or the two teams will need to play a very discipline game.
2.) DEFENSE
Toronto has a tendency to get a lead and then give it back up. They’ll need to make sure that they keep attacking, but not be over aggressive so they are out of position defensively. The Leafs will need to play a solid team defense game and make sure they help each other out especially the forwards. The Bolts have to be aware of the speed and creativity of the Leafs and not get caught out of position chasing them around the ice. The Lightning are also going to need to be aware of the odd man rushes that the Leafs can create.
3.) GOALTENDING
The Leafs are going to need a good game from Frederik Andersen since the Bolts will create and get pucks on net. They will really need Andersen to be their best penalty killer tonight since the Bolts can really move the puck and create on the power play. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been the Bolts best player almost all year, and is putting up some Vezina-like numbers in the Bolts net. The goaltending is going to be really good tonight for both teams since they can put the puck in the net and create chances.
No comments:
Post a Comment