Post-Game Talk: Tampa takes season opener 5-2. Prepare for home opener Saturday

[MintyFresh88]

Well, it looks like y'all got Healthy Strålman. Tried to tell people (Lightning fans and others) that his poor performance last season was due to injury (double hernia) not age/natural decline. What you saw tonight was classic Stråls.

Only tiny worry would be that he looked pretty tired in the third. But he himself said that he's still working on getting his conditioning back 100% after his surgery in May.

Lightning gave him a lovely tribute video and we fans gave him a Standing ovation.

Glad to know he'll be appreciated as a Panther.

Very impressed with him last night...thanks for the input.

 

[Ghoste]

I mean realistically, I don't think any team looks good on the PK against Tampa. Haha

-ghoste

 

[GrumpyKelly]

16-13 scoring chancs for the Lightning
8-3 High danger scoring chances for the Lightning

Stats on these are garbage as usual btw. Watching the replay and I've seen at least 5 high danger chances for us in the first 25 min.

 

[Boothinator]

Vasy knew 100% that Barkov would pass that too.

Did you notice his eyes during the anthem? He was so focused. That was unreal

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

Stats on these are garbage as usual btw. Watching the replay and I've seen at least 5 high danger chances for us in the first 25 min.

It was rather even game but Cirelli's 3rd line shut down Barkov's line rather well and Dadonov can't score from prime chances. I'd expect Q to demote Dadonov the third line and maybe Malgin or Vatrano will step up to the 1st line. Malgin was pretty good and I'd reckon that Q sees something in his game because he wouldn't be in the roster if that wasn't the case.

Ultimately the difference was that the Cats best players weren't playing according to their standards. If Hubs takes yet again until December or January to get going, we'd probably have to chalk this season in the training wheels category. It's only the first game of the season but the team looks like that they picked off from where they left in the last season even tho they supposedly were looking forward to starting the season on a high note.

 

[PanthersHockey1]

This team needs to learn how to play proper defense in a hurry.

 

[drktmplr12]

It was rather even game but Cirelli's 3rd line shut down Barkov's line rather well and Dadonov can't score from prime chances. I'd expect Q to demote Dadonov the third line and maybe Malgin or Vatrano will step up to the 1st line. Malgin was pretty good and I'd reckon that Q sees something in his game because he wouldn't be in the roster if that wasn't the case.

Ultimately the difference was that the Cats best players weren't playing according to their standards. If Hubs takes yet again until December or January to get going, we'd probably have to chalk this season in the training wheels category. It's only the first game of the season but the team looks like that they picked off from where they left in the last season even tho they supposedly were looking forward to starting the season on a high note.

agree with most here

the team looks like that they picked off from where they left in the last season even tho they supposedly were looking forward to starting the season on a high note.

i have to disagree. Q's influence was noticeable out of the gate. the team played far more structured than anything under booger. the difference was the top lines as you point out. cooper had the advantage to set match ups and planned his deployment around H-B-D

 

[Boothinator]

I think we played a good game 5 on 5 which we couldnt do all year last season! Our defense played well enough to win this game . If we bury some our grade A chances we could have beaten Tampa. The special teams were clearly in favor of the Lightning. But we got some good looks on the PP as well

Gotta move onto the next game Saturday!

 

[Boothinator]

agree with most here



i have to disagree. Q's influence was noticeable out of the gate. the team played far more structured than anything under booger. the difference was the top lines as you point out. cooper had the advantage to set match ups and planned his deployment around H-B-D

This is what will help us in the home opener. Q is known for matchups. Our 4th line did match up really with Tampas line. He tried to match them up with Kucherov if I am not mistaken

 

[GrumpyKelly]

the difference was the top lines as you point out. cooper had the advantage to set match ups and planned his deployment around H-B-D

I don't think the top line was bad. Dadonov just couldn't score, he had great chances. Not their best game but like you said Cooper could match up like he wanted and it's Tampa.

Comparing them with Stamkos' line and I think both were fairly well contained.

 

[pantherbot]

Stats on these are garbage as usual btw. Watching the replay and I've seen at least 5 high danger chances for us in the first 25 min.

Yeah I've been noticing this a lot too when I'm actually paying attention to the chances.

The stats say 4 high danger chances for panthers the whole game (it says 3 at 5v5), but there's no way that's all there was. Off the top of my head I can remember dads breakaway, barky/dads 2-0 fail, hoffman pass when he should have shot right in the slot, hoffman goal, trocheck goal - that's 5 high danger chances right there, 2 were converted. There were definitely more than that, but I can't recall at the moment.

 

[pantherbot]

I don't think the top line was bad. Dadonov just couldn't score, he had great chances. Not their best game but like you said Cooper could match up like he wanted and it's Tampa.

Comparing them with Stamkos' line and I think both were fairly well contained.

Agree, the top line had their chances earlier in the game. They lost some face offs so had trouble getting possession and the power play was poop. Not their best game, hubs was not very noticeable, but I didn't think it was terrible.

I though trocheck line wasn't as good as the boxscore would suggest. First period was terrible and out of sync, along with the stupid trocheck penalty that led to a goal. Hoffman goal was nice and they had some good movement there, with trocheck actually passing it around and not losing the puck. Tro shortie had nothing to do with the second line. Connolly doesn't look like he fits.

Borg played well, but he needs better wingers. Malgin played ok...but nothing special. Vatrano had some weak shot selection. I really think Borg could breakout if we gave him some better players.

 

[Gentle Man]

81-0 starts tomorrow

 

[MintyFresh88]

I think we played a good game 5 on 5 which we couldnt do all year last season! Our defense played well enough to win this game . If we bury some our grade A chances we could have beaten Tampa. The special teams were clearly in favor of the Lightning. But we got some good looks on the PP as well

Gotta move onto the next game Saturday!

Shocking...we play well 5v5, but now special teams suck.....around and around we go. I really hope this team can put it together, but won't be surprised if one thing gets fixed and something else starts to struggle...it's been happening for 20+ years.

 

[Boothinator]

 

[Boothinator]

Shocking...we play well 5v5, but now special teams suck.....around and around we go. I really hope this team can put it together, but won't be surprised if one thing gets fixed and something else starts to struggle...it's been happening for 20+ years.

The Powerplay had some chances. It didn't look out of sync. Bolts still had Vasilevskiy in goal . We will seee how we play in Game 2

 

[Chessarmy]

George Richards has a game recap up on The Athletic. Is that something he did last year? Seems like the coverage has stepped up tremendously on that website.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

PK was terrible. You know special teams might be an issue with Kitchen. Sure Tampa's elite but 3 for 3 on the PP can't happen.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

Yeah I've been noticing this a lot too when I'm actually paying attention to the chances.

The stats say 4 high danger chances for panthers the whole game (it says 3 at 5v5), but there's no way that's all there was. Off the top of my head I can remember dads breakaway, barky/dads 2-0 fail, hoffman pass when he should have shot right in the slot, hoffman goal, trocheck goal - that's 5 high danger chances right there, 2 were converted. There were definitely more than that, but I can't recall at the moment.

Malgin had a breakaway too in the second.

Plus the two goalposts and other opportunities, although probably not counted as high danger but nonetheless they had plethora of chances which weren't converted. 5v5 the team looked good, just need to score.

 

[GrumpyKelly]

Agree, the top line had their chances earlier in the game. They lost some face offs so had trouble getting possession and the power play was poop. Not their best game, hubs was not very noticeable, but I didn't think it was terrible.

I though trocheck line wasn't as good as the boxscore would suggest. First period was terrible and out of sync, along with the stupid trocheck penalty that led to a goal. Hoffman goal was nice and they had some good movement there, with trocheck actually passing it around and not losing the puck. Tro shortie had nothing to do with the second line. Connolly doesn't look like he fits.

Borg played well, but he needs better wingers. Malgin played ok...but nothing special. Vatrano had some weak shot selection. I really think Borg could breakout if we gave him some better players.

Watching it again and I think Tro's line got better as the game progressed. Connolly was the weak link there but it's still early. And yeah, Borg's line was a bit disappointing.

 

[IceManCat]

Overall the team left a good impression need some work still but that’s normal in game 1

 

[Boothinator]

Watching it again and I think Tro's line got better as the game progressed. Connolly was the weak link there but it's still early. And yeah, Borg's line was a bit disappointing.

Vatrano on the secobd line in practice

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Experience told me, with all the build up, the actual event would have been a bit anticlimactic, and it was. This is going to be a long hard process. Just hope at the end we come out on the right side of things.

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

Let's say it did, Bob is standing up, he shouldn't get beat over the shoulder like he's 5'2 or something.

I'm really disappointed in yet another Trademark Panthers loss, but come on. That was a really unfortunate deflection. I don't think the team deserved to win (too many blown opportunities and poor PK), but that one... that one doesn't upset me.

 

[IceManCat]

Dryden Hunt looked good last night I’d like to see him on the top line wiring passes from Huberdeau and Barkov