3 takeaways from Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Blue Jackets Game 4

2. Tampa Has Learned How To Hold Leads

One of the many reasons the Tampa Bay Lightning got swept by the Blue Jackets last season was their inability to hold a lead. In Game 1, the Bolts got out to an early 3-0 lead, but let Columbus right back into the game with four unanswered goals.

Games 3 and 4 have proven Tampa learned their lesson from that series. They’ve had to protect leads in consecutive games and they’ve been able to hang onto both of them. Columbus put up a ton of resistance, especially in Game 4, when they fired 17 shots in the final two periods. Had Alexandre Texier not been a step too quick early in the first period, maybe this game goes to overtime.

But at the end of the day, the Lightning did what they couldn’t do last year – hold the lead. Tampa did a strong job in the third period, limiting Columbus to just eight shots on goal and five scoring chances after allowing 15 in the first 40 minutes. The Lightning didn’t do anything fancy. They got their 2-0 lead and then focused on defense. Sometimes, that’s what you’ve got to do to win.

It wasn’t exciting hockey to watch, mind you, but it was effective. That’s what matters. Columbus gave them a little bit of assistance with a mind-boggling too many men on the ice call with just over a minute left, but give them credit, the Lightning stepped up in Game 4.