Woodward: The Tampa Bay Lightning Weekly Report

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.

GAME ANALYSIS

Wednesday December 31 – Tampa Bay Lightning 5 – Buffalo Sabres 1

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Ondrej Palat (1 goal, 3 assists, plus-4 rating)

• After struggling to string together wins during the final few weeks of December, the Lightning finished off 2014 with a statement performance. Against a clearly outmatched Buffalo squad, the Lightning defense held Sabres’ shooters to a mere 11 shots on goal throughout the entire game. At the offensive end, sensational sophomore Ondrej Palat was the leading man for Tampa Bay, scoring a goal and adding a trifecta of assists. Russian rookie Nikita Kucherov also made his presence felt in this one, adding goals number sixteen and seventeen of the season during the game’s final period. In net, rookie Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded his third career NHL victory.

Friday January 2 – Pittsburgh Penguins 6 – Tampa Bay Lightning 3

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Ondrej Palat (2 assists, 3 shots)

• With the exception of 2011’s first round playoff series, Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center has been a complete house of horrors for the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the team’s first contest of the 2015 calendar year, that story would play itself out once again. After jumping ahead with three quick goals in the game’s opening fourteen minutes, the Pens chased Lightning starter Ben Bishop from the crease. From here, the Bolts were never quite able to recover. After watching Tampa come within a goal on two occasions, Pittsburgh pulled away in the final period, sealing a 6-3 home victory over the Lightning.

Sunday January 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning 4 – Ottawa Senators 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Tyler Johnson (2 goals, 6 shots)

• After twice falling behind by a goal, the Lightning battled back resiliently in this one, capturing a 4-2 road victory in Ottawa last Sunday evening. Bolts’ pivot Tyler Johnson continued his meteoric rise to superstardom, adding another pair of goals, including one on the man-advantage. Linemate Nikita Kucherov was there with the primary assist on each tally, displaying some of the excellent chemistry the two have formed together in recent weeks. In goal, starting netminder Ben Bishop picked up the victory, stopping 20 of 22 shots.

Tuesday January 6 – Tampa Bay Lightning 4 – Montreal Canadiens 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Tyler Johnson (2 goals, 6 shots)

• In town for their first meeting since last spring’s Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured an invaluable pair of points on Tuesday evening in Montreal. After the Canadiens tallied in the first period, Tampa would answer with an impressive middle period, scoring four consecutive goals against Montreal’s goaltender Carey Price. The attack was once again led by Johnson, Palat and Kucherov, with the trio combining for six total points in this one. With franchise pivot Steven Stamkos struggling to reach his own lofty standards during his first year back from injury, the production of the “Triplets” line has taken a great deal of pressure off the Lightning’s most valuable player. Their incredible success throughout the first half is perhaps the most encouraging development of the season for Tampa Bay.

INJURY REPORT

Radko Gudas – Right knee surgery. Out indefinately.

ROSTER MOVES

Nikita Nesterov recalled from Syracuse.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

• Ondrej Palat – 1 goal, 8 assists, plus-4 rating, 9 shots in 4 GP
• Tyler Johnson – 4 goals, 4 assists, plus-3 rating, 15 shots in 4 GP
• Nikita Kucherov – 2 goals, 5 assists, plus-5 rating, 12 shots in 4 GP

LOOKING AHEAD

After compiling a 4-1 record on their five-game road trip, the Lightning will now return home for their first game of the calendar year at Amalie Arena. In town will be the bottom-dwelling Buffalo Sabres, the team Tampa Bay handily defeated 5-1 on New Year’s Eve. The Bolts will then travel north for a pair of back-to-back road games on Monday and Tuesday; the first in Philadelphia and the second in Boston against the Bruins.

(Feature Photo/Getty Images)

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