It was a tough lesson learned for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.
Let up, play it safe and you're apt to lose your lead.
The veteran Chicago Blackhawks, winners of two of the last five Cup finals, took over the first game of the series in the third period en route to a 2-1 victory after the Lightning throttled down their offense and tried to play keep-away, nursing a one-goal margin.
"It is a fine line. Everyone was trying to do the right thing. It was pretty much a perfect game plan in the first two periods," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said, via Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo Sports. "We come into the third period with a one-goal lead, and our first thought is trying to defend it."
Alex Killorn's mind-bending goal in the first had given Tampa a lead that seemed, at first, almost insurmountable. Stamkos and Co. had been 41-0-2 when in the lead heading into the third this season.
On Wednesday, they made the mistake of down-shifting in the offensive zone and the Blackhawks took quick advantage.
"We've had different scenarios throughout the playoffs when we've done that, but we've continued to pressure. We just didn't do that last game," said Stamkos. "And we gave a team that's very skilled and talented, and knows what to do in those situations, we gave them the puck. And the rest is history."
Intimidation? Fear? There are any number of possible explanations for the Lightning's playing style in the third. In the end, it doesn't matter.
"It's another learning experience. We found out that if we're to play too passive against Chicago in the third period, it's not going to work out too well for us," said Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.
As for the Game One victors, it seems the focus for the second contest of the best-of-seven series will be pushing the tempo right out of the gate.
"I thought Game 1 we weren't quick enough to begin," said Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, via Ken Campbell of The Hockey News. "I think we found out how fast they really are. Certainly got our attention. There's not a lot of room out there, not a lot of time. But I think our team realizes now everything's got to be fast, quicker. The strength of our team is finding ways to win. (Wednesday) night was a good example."
It had to be good news for the Blackhawks that they managed a win despite the fact that their two best players - Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews - failed to make it onto the score sheet.
"We had some puck possessions in some moments," Toews said, "but it didn't really amount to a whole lot the way we wanted it to," adding, "it doesn't hurt to find a way to sneak one out like that, but the motivation is right in front of us to go out there and play better and harder."
