Woodward: The Tampa Bay Lightning Weekly Report

[box type=quote color=blue] Welcome to this week’s edition of the Tampa Bay Lightning Weekly Report, where we break down everything you need to know in preparation for another week of Bolts’ hockey. In each post, we will include a brief analysis of every recent game, present Tampa Bay’s key performers of the week and evaluate all potential roster moves by the Lightning.[/box]

GAME ANALYSIS

Friday October 24 – Tampa Bay Lightning 4 – Winnipeg Jets 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Ben Bishop (40 saves)

• After the two nearly connected for a beautiful overtime game-winner in Calgary,

  

  Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and rookie phenom Jonathan Drouin combined for their first goal together during Friday night’s first period in Winnipeg. Drouin made a few masterful skill moves before slipping the puck back to Stamkos for the finish. In the second frame, Drouin took a set-up feed from Nikita Kucherov and buried a goal of his own, the first of his National Hockey League career. Fellow rookie Vladislav Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat also added second period tallies, as the Lightning rolled past the struggling Jets, 4-2. Goaltender Ben Bishop was near-perfect in this one, stopping 40 of 42 shots thrown his way.

Saturday October 25 – Minnesota Wild 7 – Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Anton Stralman (1 goal, 1 assist, plus-1 rating, 3 hits)

• With three wins on the West Coast swing already in hand, the Lightning emerged

  

  with their worst performance of the young season in Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. Back-up goaltender Evgeni Nabokov got the start, but spent much of the night on the bench after allowing four goals on the first eight shots he faced. With Tampa Bay staring down the barrel of a prohibitive 4-0 first period deficit, this game was over before it began. Nabokov’s performance (.500 save percentage) on this night was simply not NHL caliber. He did not give the Lightning any chance to come away with points. Tampa Bay must see a better effort from Nabokov over the next handful of weeks or they will once again be in the market for a trustworthy back-up netminder.

Tuesday October 28 – Tampa Bay Lightning 7 – Arizona Coyotes 3

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Nikita Kucherov (3 goals, plus-2 rating, 6 shots)

• In the opening contest of a four-game home-stand, the Lightning exploded

  

  offensively, posting seven goals against the visiting Arizona Coyotes. Rookie winger Nikita Kucherov stole the show in this one, registering a goal in every period and securing the first hat-trick of his NHL career. Gritty pivot Brian Boyle also had an impressive evening at the office, scoring his second and third goals of the season. Former Bolt B.J. Crombeen tallied for Arizona in his first action against the Lightning since being traded this summer, but not until the game’s result had already been decided.

Thursday October 30 – Tampa Bay Lightning 4 – Philadelphia Flyers 3

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Steven Stamkos (2 goals, 1 assist, plus-3 rating, 7 shots)

• Bolstered by a two-goal night from captain Steven Stamkos and a three-assist

  

  effort from linemate Valtteri Filppula, the Lightning captured their second-straight home victory on Thursday evening, dispatching the visiting Flyers by the final score of 4-3. Tampa Bay jumped ahead by a pair midway through the third period when defenseman Jason Garrison blasted home his first tally in a Lightning uniform. Flyers’ forward Michael Raffl added a goal in the game’s final minute to cut the deficit to one, but it was not enough for Philadelphia to overcome the Bolts. Goaltender Ben Bishop picked up his sixth win of the season, stopping 24 of 27 shots faced.

INJURY REPORT

Ryan Callahan – The gritty right winger is still working his way back from a lower-body injury suffered during the Bolts’ road trip last week. He is now listed as day-to-day and could make his return as early as this Saturday evening.

Victor Hedman – Tampa Bay’s franchise blueliner remains on the sideline after suffering a fractured finger on October 18 in Vancouver.

Andrej Sustr – Suffered a minor injury versus Philadelphia and is day-to-day.

Brett Connolly – Is out indefinitely.

ROSTER MOVES

The Bolts reassigned forward Cedric Paquette to Syracuse in preparation for Ryan Callahan‘s return to the lineup on Saturday.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1. Nikita Kucherov – 4 goals, 3 assists, plus-3 rating, 13 shots in 4 GP
2. Tyler Johnson – 7 assists, plus-3 rating, 12 shots in 4 GP
3. Anton Stralman – 1 goal, 3 assists, plus-5 rating, 6 shots in 4 GP

STANDINGS AND TEAM STATISTICS

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lightning will continue their current homestand on Saturday evening when former division rival Alex Ovechkin brings his Washington Capitals team to town for a showdown at Amalie Arena. The Bolts will then receive a rare three-day respite between games, as they are off until a Thursday evening home contest against the Calgary Flames. From there they will hit the road again, kicking off a three-game road trip next Saturday night against the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

(Photos/Susan Ferlita)

Follow me on Twitter @_BWoodward and please “like” LightningShout on Facebook. You can email us at [email protected].