Kucherov, Stamkos could keep rookies on their toes
With last line change, Jon Cooper can be expected to put his two dynamic offensive players on the ice as often as possible against Senators rookie defencemen.
And Thomas Chabot is excited for the challenge.
“As a young guy, to get a chance to play a big team like that, with all those great offensive players, I’m looking forward to it,” Chabot said after Wednesday’s practice at Amalie Arena. “It should be a great game.”
Or a rout, if Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov roll like they can.
Asked about the one-timer Stamkos commonly unleashes from the left-wing dot, Chabot nodded.
“He’s got a great shot, but he’s not the only player on this team,” he said, before hearkening back to watching Stamkos break into the NHL — which would have been when Chabot was 11. “Didn’t he score a bunch? Almost 60 one year? Back in Quebec, the Tampa Bay Lightning isn’t a team you see a lot on TV. But it’s going to be fun to face him.”
Chabot, who says he usually watches video with assistant coach Martin Raymond, spent some time Wednesday morning talking with associate coach Marc Crawford about defensive zone details.
No doubt they discussed how Chabot could have better handled the play leading to Minnesota rally starting goal a night earlier, when Chabot stood motionless watching Joel Eriksson Ek with the puck on the backboards before a feed to an unguarded Chris Stewart.
Through 13 games this season, Chabot has a plus-1 to go along with his six points, but Guy Boucher has been able to protect him and fellow freshman Ben Harpur. On Thursday, that will be difficult with Tampa having last change
Chabot, however, is anything but intimidated.
“He’s just a guy I get to play hockey with,” he said specifically of Stamkos. “I’ve faced other great players. I’m on their level now.
“Everybody knows that their great offensive players score lots of goals. They’ve been on a roll so far this year. Whenever I step on the ice, I’m going to be aware of who’s out there. I’m going to make simple plays with the puck. The main thing is, I’m going to have to focus going into this game.”