On Monday night, the Bolts visit the Detroit Red Wings for an Atlantic Division matchup. The Bolts then visit the Prudential Center to take on the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. On Thursday night, they'll visit the Columbus Blue Jackets, and then finish up their week on Saturday night when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Bolts need to get off to a fast start because the Red Wings seem to get stronger as the game goes on. The Lightning will need to get traffic in front of the net especially if Jimmy Howard is in net because he has been so good. Tampa Bay needs to bring its balanced attack and not just have one or two lines doing all the scoring. The Bolts will need to keep an eye on Martin Frk, who has three goals this year and has some speed. Tampa Bay will also need to stay out of the penalty box and play a disciplined game since the Red Wings have a decent power play.
The Red Wings need to get the first goal of the game since the Lightning have a decent record when scoring first. Detroit needs to keep playing its game even if they get down early because they seem to get better as the game goes on. The Red Wings are going to have to win the special teams battle since they aren't exactly the best team at even strength. Detroit needs to be better at even strength since nine of the 12 goals against them this year have come at 5-on-5. The Red Wings will also need to elevate the puck if Andrei Vasilevskiy is in net since he covers the bottom part of the net pretty well.
The Lightning need to be smart with and without the puck when they face the Devils on Tuesday night. The Devils have more takeaways than giveaway so far on the season. The Bolts will need to get traffic and deflections in front of the goaltender. The Bolts will need to keep an eye on the rookies, Will Butcher and Jesper Bratt, since they both have contributed during the early going. Tampa Bay needs to cash in on its power play opportunities, but they also need to be careful with the puck since the Devils have scored three shorthanded goals this year.
The Devils need to have better special team play especially on the penalty kill. They will need to stay out of the penalty box because they haven't been great killing penalties and the Lightning have a great power play. New Jersey will need to keep an eye on the defense of the Bolts since they can and will going the play in the offensive zone. The Devils need to keep an eye on Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov since they've been going good to start the season.
Tampa Bay will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets and they will need to get some traffic and deflections because if Sergei Bobrovsky can see a puck then he is likely going to stop it. The Bolts need to score first since, and not sit back but keep attacking once they get the lead. The Lightning need all four lines to contribute if they want to steal a win from the Blue Jackets. Tampa Bay will need to keep an eye on defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones since they aren't afraid to join the play or shoot the puck from the point. They will also need to keep Sonny Milano and Artemi Panarin in-check.
The Blue Jackets will need to score first and keep the home crowd in the game. They will also need to be good defensively since the Lightning can attack with speed and be creative with the puck. The Blue Jackets do have good home special team numbers, but not good overall special teams numbers, so that is something that they can work on in this game. Columbus need to stop the balanced attack of the Bolts and one way to do that is to spend a ton of time in the offensive zone.
The Bolts end their week against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tampa Bay need to get off to a fast start and establish the forecheck early in the game. The Bolts will need to make smart decisions with and without the puck. The Lightning will need to make the bottom six forwards of the Penguins beat them and do their best to keep the top six off the score sheet.
The Penguins need to get the first goal of the game, and have a good forecheck game early. They will need to get better goaltending especially from Antti Niemi, who has really struggled in his two games. The Pens should pressure the puck carrier to force some turnovers and use its speed in transition. Pittsburgh will also need to find a way to slow down the balanced attack of the Lightning, and that means spend a ton of time in the offensive zone peppering Vasilveskiy or Budaj with shots.
