Changes for Tampa Bay Lightning gets them back to winning ways (Part 1)
It has taken three long years for the Tampa Bay Lightning to make it to the playoffs. They were lingering outside the cut for a long time and one of the main reasons for their setbacks was that they had high goals against average.
Lightning was a weak team when they were kept out of the playoffs and was ranked among the last four teams each year in terms of goals against average. They maintained a decent average of 3.02 goals against average per game during the three years that were
hindered from a spot in the postseason.
The question as to how they were able to jump up from a team that gave away so many goals in a game to a team that is within seven wins away from getting their hands on the Stanley Cup is compelling.
There were still questions hovering over the defensive capabilities of the team at the start of the 2010-11 season but things got better and now they are one of the most formidable teams in the National Hockey League (NHL).
They have been getting better since they ended their unsuccessful run after the regular season for the first time in the last three years. However, this year the transformation was dramatic as they were successful in winning games and improved their goals
against average.
"It is tough to compare the last couple of years to this year", Steven Stamkos said. "We've had so many changes. We had brand new structure, brand new players, the coaching staff -- everything is different. It wouldn't be fair to compare that, but from Day
One [of this season] to here, it is almost night and day. It is the same structure, but it is about us getting better at it each and every day".
Some experts say that to compare the current Lightning team to the team they were a year ago is like comparing day with night.
Lightning was producing poor results in September but unlike previous years, they showed great character and determination to pull up and make it to the playoffs for the first time in four years.
In this series of articles we will be discussing some of the factors leading to Lightning’s ability to transform into a winning team that is in a position to not only win the Conference Finals but is also a strong contender for the Stanley Cup title this
time.
The changes pertaining to the addition of new faces and other changes such as the roles of the Lightning personnel being changed will be discussed regarding this transformation.
(Continued in part 2) . . . . .
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