One game into the Eastern Conference final and the Pittsburgh Penguins are still gauging their opponent.
Since head coach Mike Sullivan took over, the Penguins have feasted on opposition with speed and skill in transition, but the Tampa Bay Lightning beat them to the punch with the same game plan Friday in Game 1.
A breakaway goal from Alex Killorn, and a perfectly executed 2-on-1 finished by Jonathan Drouin provided Tampa Bay's margin of victory, and Pittsburgh knows they'll have to stifle those opportunities going forward.
"That's where they got all their opportunities, from transition," Penguins goalie Matt Murray told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "It's nothing they're doing that's overwhelming us. We're just giving them a couple too many turnovers and they're a fast, skilled group in transition. I think it's something we game to them. It's not necessarily them outplaying us. It's something that can be fixed for sure."
Pittsburgh outshot Tampa Bay 35-20, but fell victim to the Lightning striking on their mistakes, and Sullivan knows that was the difference.
"We've got to make sure that we're diligent with out decisions with the puck and in those 50-50 battles," Sullivan said. "We've got to stay above people and stay on the right side so we don't allow some of the odd-man rushes."
The Penguins haven't lost consecutive games since mid-January, and have to focus on their own game rather than becoming fixated on the strengths of the Lightning.
"I think we need to be better just understanding how they play, what it looks like," Sidney Crosby said. "We've got a better feel for that, but at the end when it's all said and done here we still have another level we've got to find if we want to win games."
