BOLTS OF LIGHTNING

Tampa Bay returned to the ice after The Four Nations Face Off with a 2-0 week and recording all 4 possible points. The Blue & Black accomplished that feat with consecutive 4-1 home triumphs and here’s how it happened.

GAME REVIEW

GAME 57  KRAKEN 1 LIGHTNING 4

Tampa Bay came back from a two-week hiatus and dispatched Seattle 4-1 on Sunday at Amalie Arena. That advanced the Bolts to 32-20-4 and that adds up to 68 points. The Kraken slipped to 25-30-4 and that equates to 54 points.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, the Lightning dented the scoreboard at 9:27 of the middle period. With the visitors on a power play, F Brandon Hagel (27) registered a shorthanded goal with D Ryan McDonagh (17) and D Emil Lilleberg (13) getting credit for the assists. That would be the extent of the scoring and both teams went to the 2nd intermission with the Bolts clinging to 1-0 lead.

Tampa Bay increased their margin to 3-zip with two quick markers in the middle of the final stanza. F Nikita Kucherov (26) lit the lamp at 11:15 with F Brayden Point (28) recording the only helper. F Luke Glendening (4) put the biscuit in the basket 1:43 later with F Cam Atkinson (5) and F Mikey Eyssimont (5) garnering the assists.

The Kraken cut the margin to 3-1 at 15:24 but the Lightning put the contest out of reach with an empty net tally at 18:14. F Nick Paul (17) found the back of the net with Hagel (37) and F Anthony Cirelli (23) providing the assists making the final arithmetic 4-1 in favor of the Bolts.

G Andrei Vasilevskiy (26-15-1) continued his dominance of Seattle with his 6th consecutive victory turning away 36 of 37 shots on goal.

GAME 58 OILERS 1 LIGHTNING 4

Tampa Bay surrendered the initial goal of the contest and then stormed back to secure a 4-1 triumph over Edmonton Tuesday at Amalie Arena. The Bolts moved to 33-20-4 for 70 points. The Oilers fell to 34-20-4 and that’s good for 72 points.

The visitors got on the scoreboard first at 11:53 of the first period but the Lightning countered quickly. Eyssimont (5) scored the equalizer with F Gage Goncalves (7) posting the singular assist and both teams went to the dressing room tied at 1-1 after the first period of play.

Tampa Bay took the lead for good just 29 seconds into the middle stanza. Hagel (28) slid the puck across the line with F Zemgus Girgensons (3) and Cirelli getting the helpers. The Bolts added to their lead with a power play goal at 5:38. D Victor Hedman (9) put the rubber disk between the pipes with Point (29) and Kucherov (58) getting credit for the assists.

The Bolts posted the only score of the final 20 minutes at 7:23. Paul (18) converted a perfect breakaway pass from F Jake Guentzel (28) into a redirection goal with Kucherov (59) getting the other helper.  That made the final arithmetic 4-1 in favor of the Lightning.

The Big Cat (27-15-1) earned the win turning away 23 of 24 scoring attempts.

ANALYSIS

*Lilleberg recorded his first special teams point of his career.

**.Vasilevskiy is 7-0-1 in his last 8 starts.

***Lightning have won 19 straight when leading after 40 minutes of play and 26-1-1 on the campaign when ahead after 2 periods.