2011 NHL Playoffs: 3 Changes Boston Must Make To Win Game 2 vs. Tampa Bay

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is in the books. The Tampa Bay Lightning emerged from the contest with a 5-2 victory and a one game to none lead in the series.

Boston began the game playing its customary physical style. The team threw punishing body checks on Lightning forwards and defensemen in all three zones. The Bruins employed a dump and chase offensive style and won races to loose pucks.

When a Lightning defenseman gained control of the puck, he was checked and forced to turn the puck over to a forechecking Bruin. This style of play had Boston in control of the game for the first eight minutes of the first period. Then, the wheels fell off the bus, in a hurry.

Tampa Bay put three pucks in the Boston net within a span of 1:25. All three goals resulted in the lack of physical play by the Bruins. 

On the first goal, four Bruins turned their backs to Lightning players in order to face a loose puck on the edge of the crease. The Bruins defenders reached for the puck with their sticks, which allowed Tampa Bay's Sean Bergenheim to swoop in, gain control of the puck and put his club in the lead.

The second goal saw Lightning defenseman Brett Clark take the puck from his defensive zone and rush it, untouched, to Boston goaltender Tim Thomas' doorstep and put the puck over Thomas' shoulder for a 2-0 lead.

The third Lightning goal, was the result of a puck-handling gaffe by Bruin defenseman Tomas Kaberle. The Bruin rearguard lost control of the puck beside the Boston net, only to have Tampa Bay's Teddy Purcell come upon the puck and stuff it between Thomas' skate and the post. There were no other Bruins in the vicinity of the net.

Boston must come out in Game 2 determined to play physically against the smaller, speedy Lightning forwards for 60 minutes. Bruin captain Zdeno Chara was nonexistent in his defensive zone. He, once again, tried to rely on his reach instead of using his 6'9", 255 lbs. frame to subdue and control Tampa Bay puck carriers.

He has the size that would intimidate the toughest of players in the National Hockey League, but he tries to be a skill player. The big problem with that is, he does not have the skill to play that style. Chara needs to re-evaluate his play and be a leader. He is paid to be an elite defenseman, it is time he play like one and show his club that he will be a physical factor and expect his teammates to follow his lead.  

The second aspect of the game Boston needs to improve is their shots on goal selection. It is a widely held belief that the way to beat Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson is by shooting at him from all angles then crash the crease for rebounds. The Bruins took 33 shots on goal in Game 1 but most of the shots came from what coaches call "the perimeter," that area outside the faceoff dots and along the blue line.

In order to score goals in Game 2, Boston must be prepared to score "dirty goals." Boston will need to continue to put shots on Roloson, then skate through Lightning defensemen to get to loose pucks and rebounds for shots from within the perimeter. Roloson gave up rebounds on quite a few Boston shots in Game 1, but was not in danger of having those rebounds put past him, because his defenders kept Bruins forwards away from the crease. 

The third and final change Boston needs to incorporate is to find a way to get rookie Tyler Seguin more ice time. The youngster's performance in Game 1, which was also his first NHL career playoff game was, arguably, the best performance of all of the Bruins.

He saw just 9:38 of playing time but scored a highlight reel goal by using his speed and puck-handling ability to cut Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1 in the first period. Seguin also assisted on defenseman Johnny Boychuk's goal in the third period. The 19-year-old forward had a total of three shots on goal. His plus/minus rating was 0. 

With Boston's power play going 0-for-4 on the night, bringing it to a woeful 2-for-41 in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it is time for changes to be made. Seguin, who saw time on the second power play unit late in the regular season, would serve it well. He has the speed needed to beat Lightning defensemen one-on-one which he used to score his goal.

He also has the ability to lurk near the net without defenders knowing where he is, read the play, and pounce on loose pucks for shots on goal. He could also be used as the weak side forward for back door passes, which, if executed effectively, will leave wide open, gaping nets for Seguin's one-time shots.

After spending all of Boston's previous 11 playoff games in the press box, Tyler Seguin showed he has the speed, puck-handling skills, shot and hockey sense to make an impact on the series. He is ready to contribute to the Bruins quest for the Cup and the coaching staff needs to get him on the ice for more than nine minutes per night.

After one game of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, there is no need for panic; after all, it is a best of seven series. The Boston Bruins need to make these changes to ensure they do not leave for Tampa with a two-game deficit.

If the Bruins play a hard-hitting physical game for the entire 60 minutes in Game 2, put shots on goal, then skate through Tampa Bay defenders to pick up rebounds and most importantly, give Tyler Seguin more playing time, they will get on the plane headed to Florida with the series deadlocked at one game apiece.