Can the Bolts go up 2-0? RSEN KEYS

RSEN 5 Keys to the Tampa Bay Lightning coming home tonight up two games to zero

1. Continued tenacity from the “THOR” lines.  Hard work should be a constant and can be controlled in your favor.  Dominic Moore, Sean Bergenheim, Steve Downie, Nate Thompson etc. need to be leaders in the work category.  You can’t control bounces but you always control your effort.

2. One of the big four need to flex their muscle. (4,26,91,6).  Usually it’s the stars leading a team and we look  for some production from the support lines.  Not the case here, although the Caps did a good job of neutralizing the Lightning stars, look out DC if they get rolling.  Two or more points from any one of these four players… 2 games to none coming back to Tampa.

3. The Lightning need to stay aggressive smacking the Capitals even if it means time in the sin bin.  The averages say the Caps’ power play will kick in, but we’ll take our chances.  After all, in the first round,  we waited for Pittsburgh’s to kick in and it never happened.  It is more the Lightning PK then opponents offensive ineptness.  The Caps get one PP goal or less, 2 games to none coming back to Tampa.

4. Be a smart Alex.  Stay on top of the Alex-es.  Ovechkin and Semin are great players in open ice.  In game one the Bolts did a great of staying close, especially to Ovechkin who maybe one of the easiest to poke check, but you need to stay close.  Staying with him is the challenge. Keeping the Alex-es under four combined points, 2 games to none coming back to Tampa.

5. Defensively limit giveaways. The first Washington goal Friday Night was compliments of a Brett Clark giveaway.  Dwayne Roloson I’m sure would prefer not to have Alex Semin shooting one from the high slot with Victor Hedman deflecting the biscuit.

RSEN prediction:    BOLTS 5, CAPS 3