BOLTS OF LIGHTNING. Now that the NHL season has commenced, I'm unveiling a new entity titled BOLTS OF LIGHTNING that will replace my THOUGHTS FROM A SEPTUAGENARIAN column during hockey season. On Wednesday, I'll review the game results from the previous seven days and add commentary. So, without further adieu, here's Games 1 through 6.

REVIEW

A 4-2 six game segment to start the season for the Bolts. Good start. That adds up to 8 points and here's how that transpired.

LIGHTNING 4. HURRICANES 1. Tampa Bay opened the 2024-25 season with a victory over Carolina in Raleigh. F Nikita Kucherov was the big story. #86 broke a 1-1 tie with a natural hat trick in the third period to go along with a first period assist for a four point night. That was accompanied by G Andrei Vasilevskiy stopping 20 of 21 shots.

CANUCKS 1. LIGHTNING 4. After having to reschedule the second part of the back-to-back with Carolina due to the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Kucherov continued his hot start to the campaign with the initial Bolts goal in beating Vancouver in the home opener at Amalie Arena. Four different Tampa Bay players scored backing up another superb performance by Vasilevskiy allowing only one goal on 27 shots.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3. LIGHTNING 4. Tampa Bay snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with 2 late third period goals at Amalie Arena to defeat Vegas for the Bolts third win in a row. Kucherov had 2 more goals, giving #86 6 markers this season, including the game winner with 55 ticks left in regulation. #88 turned away 22 of 25 shots with a clean sheet in the third period to allow the Lightning to mount a comeback.

LIGHTNING 4. SENATORS 5. Tampa Bay suffered its first loss of the year falling to Ottawa north of the border. After falling behind 2-0 after 20 minutes of play, the Bolts came back to tie the score at 2-2 and 3-3 in the middle period but saw the Sens score 2 consecutive goals with the last being of the shorthanded variety. Vasilevskiy made 23 saves on 28 shots and Kucherov netted his NHL leading 7th goal.

LIGHTNING 2. MAPLE LEAFS 5. In their worst outing of the young season, Tampa Bay was outplayed by Toronto at Scotiabank Arena. After F Nick Paul knotted the score at 1 each in the opening period, the Leafs scored four answered goals in the 2nd period chasing Vasilevskiy from between the pipes. F Brayden Point netted the other Bolts goal in the final 20 minutes.

LIGHTNING 8. DEVILS 5. In an offensive slugfest, Tampa Bay outscored New Jersey 8-5 in Newark. Trailing 2-1 in the second period F Brandon Hagel provided the second natural hat trick of the campaign, this one in just over 6 minutes, to give the Bolts a 4-2 lead that they wouldn't give up. G Jonas Johansson picked up his first win of the season turning away 30 of 35 shots.

3 STAR COMMENTARY

* #86 is on fire. 7 Goals. 5 Assists. 12 Points.

** It's not a large data sample but in the first 6 games the team overall looks more athletic and faster.

*** #88 looks to be back at full strength and that's a huge plus.

Book it Dano!