How Tampa Bay’s Third Line Became Its Most Trusted

The fact that each member of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s third forward line, Ilya Mikheyev, Zemgus Girgensons, and Pontus Holmberg, is nil on the plus-minus statistic is, in a way, humorous in its irony. 

There isn’t much expected from the oft-overlooked line from the fans or media, but within the Bolts locker room, if the value of the three could be measured numerically, it would be stratospherically high. 

“They are excellent at checking,” veteran forward Brayden Point said of the trio following Tampa Bay’s recent home win over Philadelphia. “You can see what they do in the offensive zone. 

“I really like them together.”

Everybody in the Bay Area does. 

As the Lightning have put a lethargic effort on opening night behind them with three consecutive wins over Washington, Philadelphia, and most recently, Minnesota, the aforementioned line has been productive both offensively and defensively. 

Mikheyev and Holmberg each have goals, and the three combined have accumulated six points. 

“We just try to play simple,” Mikheyev said. “Just trying to play both ways. 

“It’s like step-by-step for us.”

The returns on signing Mikheyev from Chicago this summer are early, but his speed and skating ability, as well as instant chemistry with Girgensons and Holmberg, have softened the blow of veteran Yanni Gourde being injured and out until Christmas time, 

“I can play with everybody,” Mikheyev said. “But these two guys (Girgensons and Holmberg) are hard workers. 

“The game is easy when you play this way, and we are all on the same page.”

The scoring has come, but even on possessions where a puck doesn’t find the back of the net, the three forwards demonstrate their value. 

They keep the puck in the offensive zone tremendously well, and force the best opposing forward lines to play a game (i.e., defense) that they don’t want to spend a lot of their limited shift times doing. 

Conversely, they have the physical size and speed to defend well when they don’t possess the puck.

“They were again,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said following the win over the Flyers, “the best line on the ice.”

Cooper has asked the three players to often match up with the toughest opposing lines, both from a physical standpoint as well as a talent level. 

“That was a tough assignment,” Cooper said following the Philadelphia game. “Those (Philadelphia) guys are really dependable, hard players to play against.”

What hasn’t been on the side of the Lightning third line since last spring has been luck. 

After playing stellar hockey throughout last season, the line of Gourde, Girgensons, and Holmberg didn’t get to work its magic in the postseason after Holmberg suffered a freak injury late in the regular season. 

This fall, it is Gourde (hip injury), who is out for another couple of months. However, it seems that whatever combination of guys Cooper fits into the holes along that line, they have met the expectations, and then some.

“They just know one way,” Cooper said of the current group. “They have an extreme will. They can all skate. They all get around the ice. They all can control the puck (and) control the play. 

“You are happy when they make plays like they do.”

Tampa Bay (3-1) will visit the New York Islanders (2-2, 4 points) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the first of a couple of New York City games. The Lightning will play at Madison Square Garden for the second time this season on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. against the scorching hot Rangers (4-1, 8 points).