SELLEST OSAST
The Tampa Bay Lightning head to Buffalo looking to bounce back from a dramatic weekend, and on today's episode of Lightning Power Lunch, Dave Mishkin and Greg Linnelli preview the matchup with the Sabres, examine where the Lightning stand nearly a quarter of the way into the season, and discuss the challenges ahead as the schedule shifts heavily toward Eastern Conference opponents.
The guys break down Buffalo's slower-than-expected start following last season's breakout campaign, discuss the departures of key players like Alex Tuch and Bo Byram, and revisit the bad blood that developed between the Lightning and Sabres during last year's heated meetings. They also look at the strengths of Buffalo's young core and why the Sabres remain a dangerous Atlantic Division opponent despite their inconsistent start.
Later, Erik Erlendsson joins the show to discuss the Lightning's start to the season, what has impressed him most through the first 17 games, concerns about the team's defensive play and penalty kill, and how Tampa Bay may adjust if Brayden Point misses time after leaving Sunday's game in Winnipeg.
The conversation also dives into the development of Conor Geekie, the impact of the Zemgus Girgensons-Pontus Holmberg-Ilya Mikheyev line, the return of Yanni Gourde, and the ongoing discussion surrounding Nikita Kucherov's future in Tampa Bay. Erik shares his thoughts on whether a long-term deal remains realistic and why he still expects Kucherov to remain with the Lightning through the season.
Topics Discussed
- Lightning vs. Sabres preview
- Revisiting last season's Lightning-Buffalo rivalry
- Why Buffalo hasn't replicated last year's success
- The impact of losing Alex Tuch and Bo Byram
- Buffalo's young core led by Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson
- Brayden Point's injury status and lineup implications
- Could Dominic James get another opportunity?
- Yanni Gourde's return and where he fits
- Conor Geekie's continued development
- Why the Girgensons-Holmberg-Mikheyev line has been so effective
- Quarter-season evaluation of the Lightning
- Defensive-zone breakdowns and high-danger chances
- Penalty-kill concerns and special teams discussion
- Andrei Vasilevskiy's performance despite modest save-percentage numbers
- Erik Erlendsson joins the show
- Nikita Kucherov contract situation and future outlook
- Why Erik expects Kucherov to remain with the Lightning
- The realities of negotiating superstar contracts in a rising-cap era
- Fan questions on roster decisions and team performance
- Looking ahead to Buffalo and the Eastern Conference-heavy schedule
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