Blake Coleman and the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to have to focus on having faster starts to games if they’re going to count on enjoying better finishes against the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Final.
A Lightning team that led the NHL in scoring for a third straight season is suddenly having difficulty generating an early spark. Tampa Bay hasn’t led in regulation in three straight games, and given up the opening goal in six straight outings.
“You don’t want to put yourself behind the 8-ball that frequently,” Coleman said Sunday, a day after the Lightning sleep-walked through two periods of a series-opening 4-1 loss.