The Tampa Bay Lightning had won more games (32) than any other NHL team as of January 31st, but since then they were an average 3-3-2 on a 12 game stretch playing Western Conference foes this month. That all changed last night as the Bolts manhandled the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks in their own building.
Captain Steven Stamkos finished off a four goal second period beat down of the Ducks with his 31st of the season to lead Tampa Bay to a resounding 4-1 victory last night. The Bolts outshot the Ducks in the second period 20-5 including 14-2 in the first ten minutes.
Anton Stralman, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov also found the back of the net and goalie Ben Bishop stopped 24 of 25 shots to slam the door on the stumbling Ducks. Bishop stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period to earn his 29th win.
Anaheim’s Patrick Maroon scored the first goal of the game, out-muscling defenseman Victor Hedman in front and pushing the puck past Bishop at 4:17 of the first period. In the recent past, the Lightning have not responded after giving up the first goal, but last night, Maroon’s tally seemed to light a fire under the Bolts.
Stralman tipped in a Brian Boyle shot at 4;31 of the second period, Johnson tapped one past Ducks goalie John Gibson and Kucherov and Stamkos scored just over a minute and a half apart as the rout was on. The standing room only crowd at the Honda Center booed the Ducks off the ice after the second period.
Tampa Bay swept the season series against Anaheim and won two of three in California. After beating the Sharks and losing a close one to the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings, the Bolts are showing that they can hang with the best in the west.
“These are three premier teams in the league. Tough back-to-backs, a day off then we come out here and play like we did, it’s good for this group and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling,’’ said Stamkos.
The Lightning are 18-6-1 when Stamkos scores. He has 241 goals since the start of the 2009-10 season, one more than the Capital’s Alex Ovechkin for the most in the league.
The Bolts have given up just four goals in 44 short-handed situations over their past 14 games, but are a dismal 3-for-38 on the power play in the past 13 tilts.
Luke Witkowski (healthy), Brenden Morrow (healthy), Radko Gudas (knee surgery, now off crutches) and Matt Carle (abdominal surgery, now skating) were the scratches.
The Lightning will visit the Arizona Coyotes Saturday night.
(Feature Photograph/Getty Images)
Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout and please “like” LightningShout on Facebook. You can email us at [email protected].
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
