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. (Nikita Kucherov Photo/Susan Ferlita)

GAME ANALYSIS

Thursday December 11 – Tampa Bay Lightning 2 – Carolina Hurricanes 1

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Nikita Kucherov (2 goals, plus-1 rating)

• In a game highlighted by a pair of dueling goaltenders, neither offense could muster

  

  a great deal of quality scoring opportunities. Carolina goalie Cam Ward stopped 25 of the 27 shots thrown his way, while Lightning reserve netminder Evgeni Nabokov had his best outing of the season, recording 29 saves on 30 shots. After neither side found the twine in the game’s opening forty minutes, Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov broke through with a power-play goal early in the third. Carolina soon answered on defenseman Justin Faulk’s fifth of the campaign, but Kucherov came right back with his second tally of the night, sealing a 2-1 Tampa Bay victory. This certainly wasn’t the prettiest of victories, but the Lightning still managed to emerge with two valuable points. (Photo/Tarra Dunlop)

Saturday December 13 – Washington Capitals 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Matt Carle (1 goal, 1 assist, plus-1 rating)

• On the road for the second contest of their extended road trip, the Lightning were

  

  dealt a 4-2 loss at Verizon Center this past weekend. Aided by a stellar performance from uber-talented first line pivot Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals secured their second victory of the season against their former division rivals from Tampa Bay. Backstrom got on the board with a pair of tallies in the second period before completing his first career regular season hat-trick in the early moments of the final frame. Tampa Bay answered back with goals from Tyler Johnson and Matt Carle, cutting the deficit to 3-2, but their fate was sealed on Eric Fehr’s empty-netter with just forty seconds left in regulation. Capitals’ goaltender Braden Holtby performed excellently in this one, stopping 26 of the Bolts’ 28 shots on net. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)

Monday December 15 – Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning 2

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Nikita Kucherov (1 goal, 1 assist, plus-1 rating)

• With Penguins’ team captain Sidney Crosby sidelined due to a case of the mumps

  

  the Lightning entered Monday’s game in Pittsburgh with an excellent opportunity to secure two points against the Eastern Conference’s top team. Unfortunately for the Bolts, starting netminder Ben Bishop was injured in the game’s early going, forcing head coach Jon Cooper to insert reserve goalie Evgeni Nabokov. Upon his arrival in the crease, Nabokov would allow three consecutive goals, quickly turning a 1-1 contest into a prohibitive 4-1 deficit for the Lightning. Rookie forward Nikita Kucherov would add a late tally for Tampa Bay, continuing his impressive debut campaign with goal number 12 of the season. Penguins’ netminder Marc-Andre Fleury continued to make a strong case for the Vezina Trophy, stopping 28 of Tampa Bay’s 30 shots on goal. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)

Tuesday December 16 – Tampa Bay Lightning 3 – Philadelphia Flyers 1

Bolts’ MVP of the Game:  Andrei Vasilevskiy (23 saves, 1^st career NHL victory)

• Between the pipes for his first career start in the National Hockey League, Lightning

  

  goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was tremendously impressive. The 20-year-old Russian rookie filled in admirably for the injured Ben Bishop, turning away 23 of 24 shots faced in his big league debut. It was certainly a solid start to the career of a player the Lightning hope will one day take the reigns as their franchise netminder. The Flyers tallied first when winger Wayne Simmonds cashed in on his 14^th goal of the season during the final minute of the opening period. In the middle frame, Tampa Bay jumped ahead of Philadelphia, 2-1, after goals from both Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson. In the game’s final seconds, Valtteri Filppula would connect with an empty-net tally, sealing a crucial road victory for the Lightning. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)

INJURY REPORT

ROSTER MOVES

The Lightning recalled goalie Andrei Vasilevsky from Syracuse.

THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1) Nikita Kucherov – 3 goals, 3 assists, plus-3 rating in 4 GP

2) Tyler Johnson – 2 goals, 2 assists, plus-4 rating in 4 GP

3) Matt Carle – 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-4 rating in 4 GP

STANDINGS AND TEAM STATISTICS

LOOKING AHEAD

The Lightning will wrap up their current road trip through the Metropolitan Division with a final pair of games this weekend. First up is a trip to New Jersey on Friday where the Bolts will take on the Devils at the Prudential Center. Less than twenty-four hours later, the Lightning will be on Long Island for a showdown against the surging Islanders. From there the Bolts will return home to finish out their pre-Christmas schedule, taking on the Penguins at Amalie Arena on Tuesday December 23.

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