Bolts Opener: What Went Wrong, Power Play Concerns & Caps Preview | Lightning Power Lunch - October 2, 2026

The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2026-27 season with a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers, and on today's episode of Lightning Power Lunch, Dave Mishkin and Greg Linnelli break down what happened at Madison Square Garden and where the Lightning go from here. From Igor Shesterkin's goalie goal to Tampa Bay's struggles on the power play and in the faceoff circle, the guys dive into the biggest storylines from Opening Night.

Dave and Greg discuss whether the final score accurately reflected the game, why the Lightning generated enough chances to stay close early, and how Shesterkin's performance helped New York build momentum. They also examine Tampa Bay's defensive-zone turnovers, special teams struggles, and the lack of production from the bottom six.

Plus, thoughts on Brayden Point's strong start, Ilya Mikheyev's fit with Nikita Kucherov and Point, Conor Geekie's play, lineup decisions heading into Saturday's game against Washington, and a look at the new-look Capitals featuring Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson and Alex Ovechkin.

Topics & Timestamps

0:00 Reaction to the Lightning's 5-1 Opening Night loss to the Rangers

2:35 Did the final score accurately reflect the game?

7:20 Rangers score first and take control early

11:50 Why the Lightning pushed back in the first period

17:35 Shesterkin's impact and New York's defensive play

22:50 The second period unraveling and costly turnovers

29:40 Power play struggles: 0-for-7 and missed opportunities

36:15 Faceoff numbers: concern or one-game overreaction?