There are a couple things that we can learn from how Tampa switched the momentum on us in the first period last night and got their first goal - a score that with Vasilevsky playing lights out on his tribute night in front of his home crowd turned out decisive.
First was how Hedman and McDonut saw how we were getting behind them and stepped up into center ice to break up our puck possession and to start to dump the puck in deep behind us. That shifted momentum and style and zone of play.
Second was Kucherov’s hit on Dillon that separated him from the puck and led to a point blank chance on us about one shift before they went ahead.
The first man in on the forecheck is the absolute key to the cycle game. Kucherov gets a lot of well earned props for his passing and skill - and the passing was evident there.
But first came the hit - how efficiently and effortlessly he closed with Dillon, crushed him (without taking a penalty on a borderline play - but Kuchrov knows how to walk a tightrope on the “border” of the rules) separated the puck and took possession.
You can argue that that hit and forecheck changed the game. Kucherov is built like a fire hydrant and is a much more efficient and economical skater and physical guy than one normally realizes - because his other skills are so awesome you tend to overlook those aspects of his game. He’s an MVP caliber guy.
We on the other hand do not as yet have a first man in on our dump and chase game. Tatar is about our best at it and maybe Meier can do it too if he chooses to.