Beatline Lightning - Daily Podcast On The Tampa Bay Lightning
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min · 10 segments
☕ **Enjoying the show?** Keep every episode free → https://buymeacoffee.com/beatlinesports The Tampa Bay Lightning head into the 2026-27 season ranked first…
First up, we have a question from Sarah from Rochester, who wants to know about the goaltending situation.
With Andre Vasilevsky back and Dennis Hildeby on the roster, who starts Game 1 in New York.
This is the big one.
If you look at the depth chart, Vasilevsky is the clear starter.
He's the Virginia caliber talent that keeps Tampa Bay in every single game.
He'll Dubai provides excellent insurance, especially if they play back to back games later in the week.
But against a team like the Rangers, you start the guy who has been there, done that.
He needs to be sharp early because the Rangers for check is aggressive.
I agree.
And remember, in that 3-2 preseason victory over Florida, the defensive structure was so much tighter.
Vasilevsky had to make some key saves late in that game.
If he carries that confidence into Madison Square Garden, we could see a very different outcome than what we saw in June.
But here's the nuance, Nicole.
The Rangers are going to test him immediately.
They don't give you time to settle in.
If the Lightning can control the zone entries, Vasilevsky doesn't have to face a barrage in the first five minutes.
Speaking of zone entries, let's bring in at Raiders Rick.
He's asking about the power play.
With Jake Gensel now on the roster, how does that change the unit compared to what we saw in training camp?
Gensel changes everything.
He's a sniper.
In the cycle game, we talked about developing.
Having a finisher like him at the slot makes life easier for Nikita Kushirov.
When Kushirov draws the double team, Gensel is waiting.
First up, we have a question from Sarah from Rochester, who wants to know about the goaltending situation.
With Andre Vasilevsky back and Dennis Hildeby on the roster, who starts Game 1 in New York.
This is the big one.
If you look at the depth chart, Vasilevsky is the clear starter.
He's the Virginia caliber talent that keeps Tampa Bay in every single game.
He'll Dubai provides excellent insurance, especially if they play back to back games later in the week.
But against a team like the Rangers, you start the guy who has been there, done that.
He needs to be sharp early because the Rangers for check is aggressive.
I agree.
And remember, in that 3-2 preseason victory over Florida, the defensive structure was so much tighter.
Vasilevsky had to make some key saves late in that game.
If he carries that confidence into Madison Square Garden, we could see a very different outcome than what we saw in June.
But here's the nuance, Nicole.
The Rangers are going to test him immediately.
They don't give you time to settle in.
If the Lightning can control the zone entries, Vasilevsky doesn't have to face a barrage in the first five minutes.
Speaking of zone entries, let's bring in at Raiders Rick.
He's asking about the power play.
With Jake Gensel now on the roster, how does that change the unit compared to what we saw in training camp?
Gensel changes everything.
He's a sniper.
In the cycle game, we talked about developing.
Having a finisher like him at the slot makes life easier for Nikita Kushirov.
When Kushirov draws the double team, Gensel is waiting.
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