Changes for Tampa Bay Lightning gets them back to winning ways (Part 3)
We continue discussing the reasons behind the big change in Tampa Bay Lightning that has made them such a strong team after struggling for three years.
Lightning has been going through some very tough times during the past few seasons. They brought in players from teams like Florida Panthers, players who were hungry to taste success. The addition of a new coach coupled with the fact that the players had
been facing disappointment with teams like Lightning and Panthers changed things quite a bit.
However, the change brought about by Boucher was accepted by players all around, regardless of whether they are young or old.
Boucher has played a reviving role for Lightning and has brought about numerous changes that have improved both, defence as well as offence.
They are not only becoming one of the challenging teams in the playoffs but with their performances, they are definitely one of the strong contenders for the Stanley Cup title.
Boucher’s addition to the team has done one more thing that has become widely known in the world of NHL. This is the 1-3-1 defensive zone that used to be part of the New Jersey Devils team in the 1990’s.
However, no transformation is sudden and neither was this. They allowed 2.85 goals per game during the course of the regular season but with each passing game things got better. Now, they are among the biggest giants in the league when it comes to defence.
"We went through our ups and downs", Mike Lundin said. "We went through stretches where we won a bunch in a row and we were all like, 'OK, we're getting this,' and then all of a sudden we'd lose a couple or go up and down and it would be like, 'OK, maybe
we don't quite have it yet.' There was a lot of that. I think every time we went down, we learned something new and we've been able to get higher the next time. The longer the season has gone on the more we've been able to put it all together and really stick
to that system".
Lightning has definitely learned a lot over the past year and a half. The level of commitment shown by the players is brilliant as well as the hard work, the coach is putting in.
Boucher is not even letting the most minor of mistakes get by and this has had a positive impact on the team’s learning and their efforts to become the best and lift the Stanley Cup.
(Continued in part 4). . . . . . .
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