Slow-starting Lightning seek early spark vs. Stars

Blake Coleman and the Tampa Bay Lightning are going to have to focus on having faster starts to games if they’re going to count on enjoying better finishes against the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Final.

A Lightning team that led the NHL in scoring for a third straight season is suddenly having difficulty generating an early spark. Tampa Bay hasn’t led in regulation in three straight games, and given up the opening goal in six straight outings.

“You don’t want to put yourself behind the 8-ball that frequently,” Coleman said Sept. 20, a day after the Lightning sleep-walked through two periods of a series-opening 4-1 loss.

“You can’t afford to be caught sleeping in the first period. I think we came out a little tentative and sluggish, and then our play was a little sloppy,” he added. “Obviously, work on our start.”

And fast, given that the NHL’s condensed playoff schedule features Game 2 on Sept. 21, followed by Game 3, Sept. 22.

Fatigue is an issue for the Lightning, who played their seventh game in 13 days, and following one day of rest after eliminating the New York Islanders in overtime to clinch the Eastern Conference final.

Tampa Bay looked unprepared in facing the hardhitting, tight-forechecking Stars, who were coming off a four-day break. After trading goals in the opening period, Dallas struck twice in the second, before the Lightning found their legs in out-shooting Dallas 22-2 over the final 20 minutes.

It was hardly enough, with Anton Khudobin stopping 35 shots and continuing to build on what’s been a revelatory postseason for the journeyman backup starting in place of Ben Bishop.

“We knew what we were up against. We were just shooting ourselves a little in the foot,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “Give them credit, they got to the strength of their game more than we did.”

One glimmer of hope is the growing possibility of Lightning captain Steven Stamkos nearing his playoff debut after missing six-plus months since having surgery to repair a core muscle injury. Stamkos has been practicing with the team, and even took the ice to celebrate the Lightning winning the East title.

Coach Jon Cooper said Stamkos “is inching his way closer,” but declined to specify whether he’d be available for Game 2.

“I guess there’s always a chance, but as of now, I don’t think so,” Cooper said. “But that’s why you’ve got to tune in and find out.”