BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

Tampa Bay had a very successful week going 2-0-1. That equated to 5 out of a possible 6 points and hear is how the Blue & Black accomplished that feat.

GAME REVIEW

GAME 51 KINGS 0 LIGHTNING 3

Tampa Bay started this trio of contests this week with a 3-0 whitewashing of Los Angeles on Thursday at Amalie Arena. The Bolts advanced to 26-20-3 for 55 points. The Kings fell to 26-16-6 for 58 points.

The Lightning cashed in early in the opening period. F Brandon Hagel (21) recorded what would be the eventual game winner at 4:45 with F Gage Goncalves (2) and surprisingly G Andrei Vasilevskiy (1) get credit for the helpers.

After a scoreless middle 20 minutes Tampa Bay increased their lead to 2-zip at 15:39 of the final period. Again, it was Hagel (22) lighting the lamp with F Nikita Kucherov (52) getting the only assist.

The final tally of the night was a unique one to say the least. With Los Angeles on a late game power play, the Kings pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 man advantage. F Anthony Cirelli (19) registered a shorthanded empty netter at 18:43 with Hagel (32) finishing off a three-point evening with the helper to make the final arithmetic 3-nil in favor of the Bolts.

Vasilevskiy (21-15-2) claimed the victory, stopping all 28 shots to record his 37th career shutout placing him 14th among all goalies born outside North America.

GAME 52 ISLANDERS 3 LIGHTNING 2 OT

Tampa Bay scored in the last minute to send the game to bonus hockey, but New York put a quick end to the contest garnering a 3-2 OT victory Saturday at Amalie Arena. The Isles improved to 24-20-7 and that added up to 55 points. The Bolts fell to 27-20-4 and that equates to 58 points.

After a scoreless first period, Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard at 5:39 of the middle 20 minutes.  F Jake Guentzel (26) redirected a shot from the high slot across the goal line with D Erik Cernak (11) and Goncalves (3) recording the assists.

New York evened the count at 18:16 on a rebound goal.  Both teams went to the dressing room for the second intermission with the score knotted at 1 all.

The Islanders took the lead at 6:41 of the third period with a goal coming right after the conclusion of a power play.  The Lightning drew even with just 47 ticks left in regulation. Kucherov (24) banked a shot off a New York defender and the disk when through the legs of another visiting player before finding the back of the net. D Darren Raddysh (19) and F Brayden Point (25) notched the helpers sending the contest to overtime.

It only took the Islanders 33 seconds to put the tilt in the win column on a breakaway. #88 (21-16-2) salvaged a point saving 33 of 36 scoring attempts.

GAME 53 SENATORS 3 LIGHTNING 4

Tampa Bay finished the week with a tough 4-3 triumph over Ottawa at Amalie Arena Tuesday. The Bolts moved to 28-20-4 to post 60 points. The Senators fell to 29-21-4 to stay at 62 points.

The visitors from Canada opened the scoring at 14:09 of the first period with a power play marker. The score would remain 1-0 in favor of Ottawa after 20 minutes of play.

The Lightning scored two quick second stanza goals to take a 2-1 advantage. F Luke Glendenning (3) got the home team on the scoreboard at 1:44 with D Emil Lilleberg (12) and D Nick Perbix (9) doing the honors with the assists.

That goal was followed by another by the Bolts with a man advantage at 7:38. Kucherov (25) took a perfect pass from D Victor Hedman (34) but the Sens answered at 9:30 to knot the score at 2-2 and that would be the score after 40 minutes of play.

Tampa Bay took the lead for good at 1:56 of the final period. Hagel (23) registered an unassisted goal sliding the rubber disk over the line for a 3-2 lead.

The Lightning would make it 4-2 at 18:25 when D Ryan McDonagh (2) recorded an empty netter with Hedman (35) and Cirelli (21) getting assists. It was a goal the Bolts would need because Ottawa lit the lamp just 15 seconds later. It was too little and too late for the North of the Border Crew as Tampa Bay held on for a 4-3 victory.

The Big Cat (22-15-3) recorded the victory stopping 25 of 28 shots.

ANAANALYSIS

*Vasilevskiy posted his first assist of the campaign and 21st of his career moving #88 into the Top 25 for all time points by a goaltender.

**All 4 Lightning overtime losses have come at the hands of Metropolitan Division teams.

***Tampa Bay Blue Liners have registered 126 points and that’s 5th in the NHL.