Lightning's Jon Cooper Reveals Key to Success Despite Injury

The performance highlighted just how much the Lightning’s young defensemen are contributing. Pulling off this kind of defensive effort against the two best players in the league is difficult for any team in the NHL — let alone one with such a young and inexperienced blue line.

Cooper Shares Key to Managing Tampa's Injury Struggles

After Tampa’s 3–0 win over the Flyers, their first shutout of the season, Cooper was asked about the challenges of dealing with nightly lineup uncertainty due to injuries. He answered by giving the teams young players credit for stepping up and the veterans for making them comfortable.

“Do we have a lot of big-name players out of our lineup? There’s no question. But the players that are filling in, they showed us stuff during camp. And as much as at times they may think, ‘Somebody else comes back, I may go back down,’ they’re not thinking that. They’re thinking, ‘I’m going to continue to play here and be a part of the Lightning.’ And guys are making a great case for being a part of this team, if not right now, then in the future. It’s a pretty collective effort, and I gotta give the veteran guys a lot of credit for making everybody feel comfortable who hasn’t been here the whole year. And the young guys have seized the opportunity, so it’s been fun to watch.”

Praise for JJ Moser and the Young Core

In the same press conference, Cooper also spoke highly of JJ Moser for how important he’s been to Tampa’s defense. Usually paired with Hedman, Moser has taken on a bigger leadership role, seeing more minutes due to the teams injuries. This combination of veteran guidance and young talent has allowed the Lightning to maintain consistency despite constant lineup changes.

Tampa Bay’s success in the face of adversity shows just how deep their roster has become. If these young players continue to perform at this level, the Lightning could become an even scarier contender when fully healthy. The challenge now is sustaining this momentum and ensuring the team doesn't get complacent.

With injuries continuing to test Tampa Bay, Jon Cooper’s approach of trusting his young players and fostering a collective effort might be the key to navigating a long season. For now, the Lightning are proving that depth and poise can overcome even the toughest challenges.