Jon Cooper didn’t sugarcoat anything after the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 5-1 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
The Lightning coach sounded plainly frustrated when he addressed the media, and he zeroed in on the way his team approached the game.
“It was almost like the game was an inconvenience to play and that it got in the way of summer and that’s what was disappointing,” Cooper said.
The final score made the night look even worse, though the underlying numbers were not nearly as lopsided as the result. Tampa Bay finished with a 47.94% 5v5 score-adjusted shot attempt share and a 55.82% 5v5 score-adjusted expected goal share, according to Natural Stat Trick. Still, the 5-1 line was ugly, especially with Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin scoring the empty-netter.
Cooper’s irritation wasn’t just about one rough opener. The Lightning have now been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in four straight seasons, a run that has clearly stuck with him. That comes after Tampa Bay won two Stanley Cups and reached the Conference Finals in six of eight seasons before this stretch of early exits.
There were also stretches in the game that Cooper likely didn’t like at all, including lazy moments that contributed to some of the goals against, such as John Carlson on the second goal and several against Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Tampa Bay is now 0-1-0 and sits last in the Atlantic Division in the early going. The Lightning will try to respond when they host the Washington Capitals on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST.
In Other News...
Lightning Already Have One Big Question After Their Ugly Opener
The Lightnings season began with a rough jolt in New York, where they were handled by the Rangers in a lopsided opener that immediately put the spotlight on how quickly they can settle in. There were a few encouraging off-ice notes around the organization, including a $300,000 donation through the clubs Strikes of Kindness initiative, but the on-ice tone was all about getting back on track after a night that left little room for comfort.
One of the first answers Tampa Bay now needs is how its blue line will look with Victor Hedman back after his leave of absence. The veteran defenseman has returned and is physically and mentally ready to play, which gives the Lightning a stabilizing presence at a time when they need one, but it also adds another layer to an early-season group still trying to find its footing after an ugly start. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Need Pontus Holmberg To Fix A Line They Missed Badly
Pontus Holmbergs absence last spring was felt well beyond the box score. The Lightning lost a useful two-way presence on April 6 when he went down with a season-ending collarbone fracture, and the ripple effect showed up in Tampa Bays performance and playoff run from there. He has since recovered and rejoined the team, giving the coaching staff a versatile forward back in the mix as camp and lineup decisions take shape.
Holmberg is being asked to settle into a new role now, skating on a line with Jeff Viel and Zemgus Girgensons while also seeing time with the second power-play unit. For a Lightning team that missed his steadiness badly after the injury, the challenge now is less about what happened last spring and more about how quickly he can help restore a line the club never really replaced. [Read more 🡒]
Igor Shesterkin Just Delivered A Rangers Moment Fans Wont Forget
Igor Shesterkin gave the Rangers a night they are not likely to forget, and Tampa Bay was on the wrong end of the highlight. The New York goaltender not only handled his usual duties in net, but he also became the first goalie in Rangers history to score a goal, sending the puck into the open net late in a game against the Lightning.
Shesterkins unusual contribution came in a performance that was steady from start to finish, as he stopped 24 shots while the Rangers rolled to a 5-1 win. For Tampa Bay, it was the kind of final frame that turned an already difficult night into one with a spot in the record book, even if the outcome had been settled well before the final horn. [Read more 🡒]