Notebook: Bolts using postseason off days for valuable video work

Tampa Bay took Friday off after defeating the New York Islanders 2-1 in Game 3 Thursday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to take its first lead in the best-of-seven series at 2-1.
The Lightning have routinely used the day between games to rest and recover, foregoing the opportunity to practice. Notably, following a disappointing 2-1 loss in Game 1 of the series where head coach Jon Cooper lamented his team's mental acumen as well as its puck management during the game, the Lightning opted not to practice.
That seemed like a perfect opportunity to get on the ice and work through some of their issues. Instead, the coaching staff leaned heavily on a video review with the players and opted not go on the ice, trusting that the video coaches Nigel Kirwan and Brian Garlock put together as well as the tweaks and adjustments the staff could make using that video would be enough for a different result in Game 2.
A day later, the Lightning went out and controlled the Islanders for nearly the duration of the contest, defeating them 4-2 to gain their first win in the series and gain a split at home before the Stanley Cup Semifinal shifted to Long Island.

Those video sessions are critical for the Lightning this postseason and have been for some time now. They allow the team to see their mistakes, ways they can correct them and give them the tools and knowledge needed to be better their next time out.

"I've said it before with this group, we're not afraid to take criticism," veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "We're pretty well aware when we're not on top of our game or when adjustments need to be made. We've got a lot of confidence in our coaching staff to come up with solutions for us. That trust factor between our group, the players and the coaching staff is really strong from coming off of what we accomplished last year. They put a plan together. If we don't execute it as well, they continue to tweak things. There's no hard feelings in our group. There's no egos hurt. We're all striving and pulling on the rope in the same direction here."
Maybe the biggest benefit to the team's ability to self-correct through video review is saving their legs for the games when it matters most. Without the need to practice between games and go over adjustments on the ice, the team can use the off day for recovery.
Every day spent not on the ice in the playoffs is a huge benefit and one the Lightning hope to reap the benefits of the deeper their postseason run lasts.
"Rest is huge, so we know that going into a playoff run practices are going to be few and far between," McDonagh said.
PLAYOFF POINT: Lightning center Brayden Point established a franchise record for a playoff goal streak when he scored a goal in Game 3, the sixth-straight contest he's been able to find the back of the net.
Point's current goal run is the longest of his career, regular season or postseason.
Point leads the NHL for goals (11), scoring three more than the next closest player. He's attempting to lead the League for playoff goal scoring for the second-straight season after netting a NHL-best 14 goals during the 2020 Playoffs.
His goals aren't coming in garbage time either. His marker in Game 3 was the game-winner, his third this postseason, tied for most in the NHL. He's scored the opening goal in a playoff game four times this postseason.
But beyond the scoring, Point is just an all-around great player. When he first came to the Lightning, he was part of the team's shutdown line that famously held Boston's top line of David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand in check in a Second Round series in 2018 after getting torched by the trio in the series opener.
Since then, his game has evolved to the point he's the top center on the defending Stanley Cup champions. And he's continued to produce on the biggest stage.
"He just gets better and better," Lightning forward Blake Coleman said. "The spotlight's never too big for him. He seems to step up to whatever the challenge is, whatever the series is, he has a way of adjusting his game to be successful. In a series against the Islanders, it's more of a competitive, physical series, and he has no problem playing in that style of game because he competes so well. It just seems like there's no stage too big for Brayden."
Asked if there's an aspect to Point's game that doesn't get enough attention, that's maybe a bit underrated, Coleman jokingly responded, "Gosh, I think everything he does is underrated."
Coleman then went on to identify a trait you wouldn't expect from the League's top goal scorer and second-leading scorer this postseason.
"Something I don't think that's talked about enough is his ability to win one-on-one battles," Coleman said. "He's a guy that goes into the corners and more so than not, he's going to come out with the puck. He competes as hard as anybody on this team. You add that to his skillset, that's why he's able to win those battles, the way he skates, the way he competes. A lot of skill guys kind of shy away from tough hockey in the corners and winning battles. He's obviously the opposite. He gets in there, mixes it up and is able to create a lot of possession for his line and for our team by winning those battles."

KUCH'S WOW MOMENT: Nikita Kucherov extended his playoff point streak to a career long six games after notching an assist on Brayden Point's game-winning goal from Game 3. Kucherov now has 23 points this postseason, eight more points than the next closest player.
Kucherov moved into fourth place among Russian players for postseason scoring, passing Sergei Zubov on the all-time list after notching his 118th career playoff point in just his 104th game. Next up on that list for Kucherov is Alex Ovechkin, who has 135 points, 17 more than Kucherov currently.
The way Kucherov is playing, it's not inconceivable he could be knocking on Ovechkin's door by the end of this postseason if Tampa Bay's run continues.
On Friday, Blake Coleman was asked if he could remember his first 'wow' moment watching Kucherov play. Coleman started his career with the New Jersey Devils before being traded to the Lightning last season prior to the trade deadline.
Coleman recalled a series his Devils played against the Lightning in the opening round of the 2018 Playoffs. Coming into the First Round, the Devils were ranked tied for seventh in the NHL on the penalty kill. Coleman said the unit felt pretty good about how it was performing entering that series.
Then they faced the Lightning power play headed by Kucherov.
"I remember Kuch just tearing us apart," Coleman recalled. "I think there were five power-play goals in the first two games, something like that. That just speaks to what a talent he is and just the way he sees the game. When he has the puck on the half wall, something good's going to happen more times than not."
Coleman's memory was only slightly off. The Lightning scored four power-play goals in the opening two games of that series to bring a 2-0 series lead to New Jersey. Kucherov would end up recording five goals and 10 points in a five-game series win for the Lightning, at the time setting a record for most points by a Bolt in a playoff series. He's since bested his own mark with 11 points in the First Round this season versus Florida, his first games back after sitting out the 2020-21 regular season following offseason hip surgery.
Coleman said he has a 'wow' moment every time he watches Kucherov in a game.
"I think when you play with somebody you find an appreciation for how good they are because you see it day in and day out and their ability to continue to do it and find different ways to be successful," Coleman said. "Kuch is the ultimate pro. He works hard. He puts in the hours. It's not a fluke that he missed the whole season and has come back this strong. He worked really hard to get to where he is right now and gave our team a chance to be successful here in the playoffs."

BLOCK PARTY: Tampa Bay blocked 21 shots in the Game 3 win on Long Island, many of those coming in the closing minutes of the third period with the Lightning holding onto a one-goal lead and defending desperately to keep the surging Islanders from tying.
Eleven different Lightning players blocked at least one shot, including a game-high four from Norris Trophy finalist Victor Hedman.
The team's willingness to purposely throw their bodies in front of a puck in an attempt to keep it out of their net is a dedication that championship-level teams possess. Now, more than any time of the year, those blocked shots are critical to a team's success, and it's not lost on Lightning players how everyone contributes in that area.
"We talked about it right after Game 1," Ryan McDonagh said. "We lost that game, and we didn't do enough of the little things there to give ourselves a chance. Shot blocking is one of them. Ever since that game, I feel like everybody's willingness has gone up even more. They've got some big shots from the blue line there that can really hurt you, and our forwards are being courageous and brave there and getting in the lanes, and if it gets by them, all of us as D-men try to do our best too."
The Lightning are buoyed too by the knowledge they have Andrei Vasilevskiy in net backing them up. If one of those shots happens to make it through the block, Vasilevskiy is going to save it almost every time
That comfort combined with their bravery allows the Lightning to close out tight, one-goal contests like they did in Game 2.
"It's a great sign for us and just keeps our energy on the bench going and keeps those positive vibes going in our room when guys are mentioning those blocks, it goes a long way for our group," McDonagh said.