BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

A disappointing 0-2 performance for the Blue & Black last week. Here’s how that transpired.

GAME REVIEW

GAME 82 LIGHTNING 0 RANGERS 4

In a game that was meaningless for Tampa Bay as it applied to playoff position the New York Rangers blanked the Lightning 4-0 Thursday at Madison Square Garden. The Big Apple Gang finished the season at 39-36-7 for 85 points. The Bolts moved to the NHL second season with a 47-27-8 mark that adds up to 102 points.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes the home team posted a shorthanded marker at 1:02 of the middle stanza. That would be the only score, and both teams went to the second intermission with the Rangers holding a slim 1-0 advantage.

New York would post a trio of third period goals. The first at 4:02 with the second at 12:50 and the last score at 16:24 making the final count 4-zip in favor of the Rangers.

G Jonas Johansson (9-6-3) suffered the loss turning away 18 of 22 shots on goal.

GAME 83 PANTHERS 6 LIGHTNING 2

In what may have been the worst performance in months by the home team Tampa Bay lost the opening tilt of The Stanley Cup Quarterfinals 6-2 to the Florida Panthers Tuesday at Amalie Arena. That gives the Cats a 1-0 series lead.

Florida cracked the score board at 3:44 of the first period. The Lightning answered at 12:21 with a power play score. F Jake Guentzel (1) found the back of the net with F Nikita Kucherov (1) and D Victor Hedman (1) providing the helpers.

The Panthers retook the lead with just 45 seconds left in the opening 20 minutes. That would make the count 2-1 in favor of the visitors at the first intermission.

The Cats posted the next 3 scores in the middle stanza. The initial goal at 4:41 and the second coming just 14 seconds later with Florida on the power play. The third marker was also with the Panthers having the man advantage at 9:44. Tampa Bay cut the lead to 4-2 at 13:04. F Brayden Point (1) lit the lamp with D Ryan McDonaugh (1) and F Gage Goncalves (1) credited with the assists.

The visitors ended all hopes of a Blue & Black comeback with their third power play goal of the contest at 5:09. That made the final count 6-2 in favor of the defending Stanley Cup champion.

G Andrei Vasilevskiy (0-1) absorbed the loss stopping 10 of 16 shots on net.

ANALYSIS

*Kucherov and Hedman combined for the assists for the 47th time in the playoffs. The only other forward-defenseman combo with more are Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey with 51 and Mike Bossy and Denis Potvin at 49.

**Goncalves recorded his first career playoff point.

***Guentzel is now 3rd among active players with 39 or more goals through 70 playoff encounters trailing only Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon who both have 41 counters.