BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

A perfect 3-0 segment for 6 points. A total team effort with the offense hitting on all cylinders and the defense keeping the opposition off the scoreboard. Check out how the Bolts accomplished this feat. Enjoy.

GAME REVIEW

GAME 27 LIGHTNING 8 FLAMES 3

Tampa Bay used a four-goal third period to turn a 4-3 advantage into an 8-3 triumph over Calgary Thursday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bolts improved to 15-10-2 for 32 points. The Flames dropped to 14-11-5 and that equates to 32 points.

Calgary opened the scoring early in the first period, but the Lightning tied the score at 18:40. F Nikita Kucherov (11) registered an unassisted goal, and the opening 20 minutes concluded with both teams tied at 1 all.

The second period was an offensive barrage with the rubber disk ending up in the back of the net five times. Tampa Bay lit up the scoreboard with the first three scores. F Jake Guenztel (14) lit the lamp with assists going to D JJ Moser (8) and Kucherov (26) at 6:25. That goal was followed 90 seconds later by a power play one from F Brayden Point (19) with Kucherov (27) and D Darren Raddysh (7) chalking up the helpers. The trio of goals was culminated by another man advantage score from F Anthony Cirelli (12) with Point (13) and Kucherov (28) providing the assists. The Flames answered that with a couple of markers of their own and the teams went to the second intermission with the Lightning holding a slim 4-3 lead.

The final stanza was all Bolts with the Black & Blue lighting up the scoreboard four times. F Brandon Hagel (13) began the onslaught with Cirelli (14) credited with the only assist just 43 ticks into the third period. That was followed by the third power play goal of the evening scored by the Lightning with this one going to Guentzel (15) with Kucherov (29) and Point (14) providing the assists at 11:34. F Conor Geekie (5) put the biscuit in the basket at 13:24 with assists going to Hagel (20) and Cirelli (15) for their third goal of the period. The final Tampa Bay marker was by Guentzel (16) giving #59 a hat trick for the evening with Point (15) and the fifth assist of the contest by Kucherov (30) closing out the scoring at 8-3 at 17:21.

G Andrei Vasilevskiy (13-9-1) saved 19 of 22 shots to record the victory in his 500th career game with all being for Tampa Bay.

GAME 28 LIGHTNING 5 KRAKEN 1

After surrendering the first goal of the contest, Tampa Bay countered with the next five markers in route to a 5-1 victory over Seattle Saturday at the Climate Pledge Arena. The Bolts moved to 16-10-2 and that adds up to 34 points. The Kraken fell to 15-15-2 for a total of 32 points.

Seattle opened the scoring early in the first stanza with a power play counter, but the Lightning answered that with two scores of their own. Hagel (14) evened the score with the only assist going to D Nick Perbix (5) at 8:16. Tampa Bay took the lead for good when Point (20) put the puck over the line with the helpers going to Raddysh (8) and Guentzel (14) at 13:21 and the initial 20 minutes ended with the Bolts leading 2-1.

After a scoreless middle period, Tampa Bay posted all three scores in the final period. Guentzel (17) continued his hot scoring streak with a power play goal with helpers from Point (16) and Kucherov (31) at 4:03. The Lightning added an empty net maker from Hagel (15) with a single assist going to Kucherov (32) at 16:08. The Bolts posted the last change on the scoreboard when F Declan Carlile (1) put the rubber disk in the back of the net for the first NHL goal for #67 with F Luke Glendening (2) and F Mikey Eyssimont (2) registering the assist at 19:38 making the final arithmetic 5-1.

G Jonas Johansson (3-1-1) had his best outing as the backup turning away 21 of 22 shots.

GAME 29 BLUE JACKETS 3 LIGHTNING 5

After building a 4-nil lead after two periods, Tampa Bay went into a funk allowing the next three markers to make it interesting before closing out Columbus 5-3 Tuesday at Amalie Arena. The Bolts improved to 17-10-2 and that computes to 36 points. The Blue Jackets slipped to 12-15-5 for 29 points.

The Lightning changed the scoreboard first at 3:21 with the only counter of the opening period. Glendening (2) lit the lamp with Perbix (6) and D Emil Lilleberg (8) providing the helpers.

Tampa Bay, as it has done in the previous two contests, had a huge scoring 20 minutes and against Columbus it was the middle period with three goals. F Nick Paul (7) began the scoring at 1:28 with an unassisted marker. That was followed by Guentzel (18) with Paul (9) getting the helper at 7:36. The last of the triad of goals was provided by F Mitchell Chafee (6) on the power play with Paul (10) again and Hagel (21) given credit for the assists giving the Bolts a 4-zip lead after 40 minutes of play.

There was still life in the Blue Jackets as the visitors posted two scores within 42 seconds and then posted a power play goal to cut the Tampa Bay lead to a precarious 4-3. The Lightning sealed the deal with an empty net goal provided by Point (21) with Kucherov (33) and Guentzel (15) responsible for the assists at 17:51

The Big Cat notched another victory (14-9-1) turning away 28 of 31 shots on goal.

ANALYSIS

*Bolts offense was on fire averaging 6 goals a game over this segment with the lowest output at 5. That will win you a whole lot of contests.

**G Jonas Johansson had a stellar game with his best performance of the season allowing only 1 goal in the Lightning win over the Kraken.

***Tampa Bay tied with Winnipeg for the most goals scored this season with 117.

Book it Dano!