3. Take a Breath
It's one game in a long series.
"We have to be better," Stamkos said. "There's areas that we're going to improve on.
"It's Game 1 of a long series and, like I said, you've got to give them credit. I think there's areas that we can improve and we will improve."
The sky isn't falling for Tampa Bay. The Bolts were in this exact situation after a 5-0 road loss to the Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the First Round.
"We've done a great job in previous playoff runs and this playoff as well," Hedman said. "You never want to lose two in a row in a playoff series. For us to bounce back is going to be huge.
"On the road again, but at the same time, it's going to be big for us. We're a strong group mentally and we'll bounce back."
Since the start of the 2020 playoffs, the Lightning are 17-0 following a postseason loss. They've been in this situation before and have no reason to panic after one loss in a seven-game series.
"In the end, it's Game 1," said Cooper. "We've been through this before. We've won series when we've lost the first game and we've won series [when] we won the first game.
"Now we've got a look at them. They've had a look at us.
"I know that we've got better in us, but take nothing away from the Rangers effort tonight."
No matter how hard you work in practice, you can't replicate game intensity and stay in game shape without playing a game. It's no excuse for the Bolts, but they should be back in more of a groove for Game 2.
Either way, the Lightning aren't using the extended break as the reason for the loss.
"I mean, it is what it is," said Stamkos. "We're definitely not a group that is going to use that as an excuse."
We'll see if Tampa Bay can rebound in Game 2 when they battle the Rangers again on Friday night. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.