Lightning preach patience as Stanley Cup Final Game 1 approaches
TAMPA, Fla. -- With the pre-series bustle of the Stanley Cup Final almost complete, the Tampa Bay Lightning's focus will be fixed on key tasks in Game 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Preserve their structure. Maintain discipline.
"I just think we can't wait and see how the Chicago Blackhawks are going to play," Lightning winger Brenden Morrow said Wednesday morning. "We have to go and try to dictate how we're going to play and play to our pace and to our strengths and not be concerned with how they're playing."
For Tampa Bay, a calm-and-collected approach Wednesday night at Amalie Arena will be important. Game 1 matchups have offered mixed results for the Lightning throughout the postseason. They went 1-2 in such contests during their run to an Eastern Conference title.
In the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, they lost to the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 despite posting 46 shots to their opponent's 14. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, they edged the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they lost to the New York Rangers 2-1 after allowing goals in the second and third periods.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, went 2-1 in Game 1 matchups during their run through the Western Conference. They earned victories over the Nashville Predators (4-3 in overtime) and Minnesota Wild (4-3) before losing to the Anaheim Ducks (4-1).
"Just play our structure," Lightning defenseman Matt Carle said. "Stay patient with it, have that kind of mentality that it could take us 30 minutes, it could take us 60 minutes longer to score our first goal. So we want to be sound defensively and capitalize on mistakes when we can create them."
Expect a feeling-out process to take place. The Lightning and Blackhawks are unfamiliar opponents, having played each other just twice during the regular season. Tampa Bay went 1-0-1 against Chicago, and the season series was completed with the Lightning's 4-0 victory on Feb. 27 at Amalie Arena.
With the Stanley Cup Final here, a measured approach could prove best as each side learns about the other. Nerves must give way to measured play as soon as possible.
"We've been going through this process for a month and a half now," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "And just to look at this room as each round has grown, it has been pretty cool. But we're also getting used to it, having everybody around here. You're human, so you get excited, nervous, whatever the energy is you have before a series."
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
