BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

 A satisfactory 2-1 record for Tampa Bay in the past segment. Started with a blowout home victory then began a road trip with a win followed by an agonizingly close loss. Captured four of a possible six points and this is how it went down along with my opinions on why it occurred. Enjoy.

GAME REVIEW

GAME 24 SHARKS 1 LIGHTNING 8

Tampa Bay posted the first seven markers of the contest, with a fistful coming in the opening 20 minutes for the second time this season and cruised to an 8-1 triumph Thursday at Amalie Arena over San Jose. The Bolts improved to 12-10-2 for a total of 26 points and the Sharks dropped to 10-14-5 and that equates to 25 points.

The Lightning scored early and often in the first period. The offensive barrage began with F Cam Atkinson (3) lighting the lamp at 1:26. The assist was credited to F Conor Geekie (4) and the Black & Blue took a 1-0 lead.

Tampa Bay made it 2-nil at 7:29 of the opening stanza. This time it was Geekie (4) getting the goal and Atkinson (2) along with D Victor Hedman (19) getting the helpers.

In less than 90 seconds, the Bolts lead ballooned to 4-zip courtesy of F Brandon Hagel (11 & 12) contributing the BOGO scores. The first came at 8:32 with F Jake Guentzel (13) and D Ryan McDonagh (7) assisting. Just 23 seconds later the math changed again as #38 scored with D Erik Cernal (7) getting the solo assist.

Tampa Bay put the finishing touches on the first 20 minutes with a power play counter at 17:45. Guentzel (11) put the biscuit in the basket with Hedman (20) and F Brayden Point (6) contributing the assists and the Bolts went to the locker room at the first intermission with a huge 5-0 advantage.

The middle period saw San Jose make a change in netminders.  G Vitek Vanecek had an early exit with MacKenzie Blackwood now between the pipes but the change was to no avail as the Lightning posted a couple more goals. F Anthony Cirelli (11), who so far this campaign is having a career year, lit up the scoreboard at 4:16. The helper went to McDonagh (8) and the Bolts now lead 6-0.

Tampa Bay added one more goal in the second period at 18:32. This time it was D Nick Perbix (3) doing the honors with Point (8) and D Emil Lilleberg (7) setting the table to make the arithmetic 7-0.  

The Sharks finally dented the scoreboard 14 seconds into the final 20 minutes of play, but the Lightning answered that marker with one of their own at 6:01. F Nick Paul (6) closed out the scoring by maneuvered the rubber disk between the pipes with Point (9) and D JJ Moser (7) getting the assists to make the final count 8-1 in favor of the Bolts.

G Andrei Vasilevskiy (11-8-1) was the recipient of the offensive onslaught by the Lightning but did his part turning away 20 of 21 shots. 

GAME 25 LIGHTNING 4 CANUCKS 2

Tampa Bay made it two in a row with a 4-2 road triumph over Vancouver Sunday North of the Border. The Bolts improved to 14-9-2 and that adds up to 30 points. The Canucks fell to 14-8-4 for 32 points.

Vancouver had the only score of the opening period. It came at 16:08 and that gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.

The Lightning evened the count at 4:40 of the middle stanza. F Nikita Kucherov (13), returning after a two-game absence due to an injury, deposited the puck into the back of the net with McDonagh (9) and Point (10) getting assists. Tampa Bay took the lead with a power play goal at 6:29 of the second period. Point (17) notched the counter with Kucherov (23) and Hedman (21) with the helpers and the Black & Blue went into the second intermission with a 2-1 advantage.

Vancouver tied the score at 2-apiece at 4:52 of the final period but the Lightning took the lead for good at 16:04. Guentzel (12) made the most of a power play opportunity and put the biscuit in the basket with Kucherov (24) and Point (11) chalking up the assists.

Tampa Bay added an empty net goal when Point (18) registered an unassisted goal with just 18 ticks left in regulation. That made the final arithmetic 4-2 in favor of the Bolts.

The Big Cat (12-8-1) turned away 22 of 24 shots on goal to earn the victory.

GAME 26 LIGHTNING 1 OILERS 2

Tampa Bay had a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at the hands of Edmonton on Tuesday at Rogers Place. The Oilers moved to 16-10-2 for a total of 34 points. The Bolts slipped to 14-10-2 and that computes to 30 points.

The home team scored first at 17:31 of the opening stanza. That was the only marker in the first 20 minutes and both teams went to the locker room with the Oilers holding a precarious 1-0 lead.

The Lightning tied the score at 10:02 of the middle period. Guentzel (13) converted with Kucherov (25) and Point (12) providing the set-up passes. Edmonton took the lead at 11:58 and from that point on both goalies stepped up and posted clean sheets making the final count 2-1 in favor of the Oilers.

#88 (12-9-1) absorbed the hard luck loss turning away 23 of 25 shots on goal.

ANALYSIS

*Kucherov missed his second consecutive game with an undisclosed injury sitting out the tilt against the Sharks but returned for the last two contests.

**Paul posted an amazing 15 faceoff wins in the Edmonton game and that’s the second highest this season behind the 17 recorded by Cirelli at Winnipeg on November 3.

***Vasilevskiy is 6-4 over his last 10 games with a .910 save percentage and his next game will mark his 500th all with the Lightning.