a bit different in the way it stresses the involvement of defensemen in the offense. The adjustment period took longer than anticipated and has not generated the hoped-for results.

Detroit's inconsistency during the season may have been partially the result of Blashill, 42, being a rookie NHL coach. But it also says something that he was able to get a team into the playoffs that has problems scoring goals, gives up more goals than it scores and is not as strong as it once was on the blue line.

Video: FLA@TBL: Johnson scores PPG, puts Lightning ahead

SPECIAL TEAMS

Video: DET@MTL: Nyquist fires in a wrister to trim deficit

Lightning: The power play has been abysmal at times this season and finished No. 28 at 15.8 percent, the lowest of any team inthe playoffs. Cooper has tried every imaginable combination and even went with five forwards on occasion, but nothing has worked. The loss of Stamkos and Stralman won't make things any easier.

On the bright side, the penalty kill is No. 7 with an 84.0 percent success rate. Boyle, Callahan, Brown and Cedric Paquette take a lot of pride in their ability to kill penalties and block shots in the slot. Garrison and Hedman will be also be leaned on heavily.

Video: NSH@TBL: Kucherov puts Lightning ahead 2-1 in 2nd

Red Wings: A late-season hot streak helped the power play finish in the middle of the pack after being one of the NHL's worst for most of the season.

The biggest differences were the emphasis on having a strong net-front presence, usually Abdelkader