BUFFALO — When he was considering where he wanted his hockey career to take him last offseason, Zemgus Girgensons’ top priority was finally getting to the postseason.
After a decade of playing in Buffalo — and the Sabres in the middle of their current playoff drought that will likely now hit 14 seasons — he thought signing with the Lightning would be his best bet.
“That was definitely the main reason why I came here with the players they have and the staff,” Girgensons said. “It was almost known, it was possible to make it.”
And now, at the age of 31 and with 764 NHL games under his belt, Girgensons will go to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time.
Hours before the Lightning’s 3-2 shootout loss Saturday night in Buffalo, they clinched their eighth straight trip to the playoffs, tied for the second-longest active streak. They’ve made the postseason 11 times in the past 12 years, the only time missing out by just one point.
With six games left, the Lightning trail Toronto by four points for the Atlantic Division lead — which would ensure home ice in the playoffs for at least the first two rounds — but still lead Florida by two points for second, which would earn home ice in a first-round series potentially against the Panthers.
“Just a lot of excitement, looking forward to it,” Girgensons said of making the playoffs. “I mean, the job is not done yet here. We still got something to go to try to get that home-ice advantage. We still have work to do.”
That it happened in Buffalo was surreal for Girgensons, who was a fan favorite in his time with the Sabres for his hard-nosed play that epitomizes the city. He received a warm reception during the first period following a tribute video of highlights from his career with the Sabres, and there were a smattering of fans at KeyBank Center wearing their Girgensons No. 28 Sabres jersey.
”It was definitely weird to start I think, (at least) the first couple shifts,” Girgensons said of his first game back in Buffalo. “But after that, it felt just like a regular game, and it was nice to see the video. It was good. I don’t like attention so I was hoping it was not too long.”
Though his numbers might not show it, Girgensons has given everything the Lightning wanted from him when they signed him to a three-year, $850,000 average annual value contract in July.
He’s been a fixture on a fourth line that relies on forechecking to establish its game. He fit in seamlessly, replacing Tyler Motte as Luke Glendening’s forward partner on a penalty kill unit that’s been top five in the league most of the season. Girgensons’ 161 hits, which tie his career high, lead the Lightning.
He’s also provided flexibility. He played third-line center when Nick Paul moved into the top six before Yanni Gourde arrived. And he fit in well in brief time on the team’s top matchup line alongside Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel because he’s willing to go into the corners and have the puckhound mentality that’s made that line successful.
Girgensons has just two goals and six points in 76 games, and while he would like to see better offensive finish — he has a 2.5% shooting percentage and had some horrible puck luck early in the season, taking 55 games to get his first Tampa Bay goal and 10 games for his first assist — the Lightning didn’t sign him to score.
Ask Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and head coach Jon Cooper and they’ll say the biggest factor is having good players. And the Lightning have a ton of elite talent, but the role players who fit in well ...
