Tampa Bay Lightning Shutout Colorado Avalanche In Third Straight Victory

The Tampa Bay Lightning extend their win streak to three as they shut out the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

The Tampa Bay Lightning found success this past weekend as the came up big with wins over the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks to cap off a back-to-back weekend series. Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning had a new task in front of them. The Tampa Bay Lightning headed into the Pepsi Center in Denver to face off with captain Gabriel Landeskog and the Colorado Avalanche.

Unlike some of the other games Tampa Bay Lightning fans have borne witness to this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning really kicked things up a notch and set the tone right from the initial puck drop. The Lightning spent much of the first period in the offensive zone putting pressure on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

It would take just over half a period for someone to break the ice, but when all was said and done, it was the Tampa Bay Lightning who would strike first blood and come up with the early lead. Surprisingly enough, everything got started on the Power Play.

While the Lightning wouldn’t be able to capitalize on the Power Play, just seconds after the penalty came to an end, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman fires a shot on net, which is ultimately turned away by Varlamov. Unfortunately, Varlamov wasn’t so lucky when the rebound came around. Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat fired off a wrist shot that opened the scoring for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the final two minutes of the first period, the Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves in a rather precarious position. With just 2:12 left in the period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would be headed to the penalty kill as Lightning center Valtteri Filppula is sent off for two minutes for Hooking.

Thanks to a heroic dive from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and some goaltending heroics from Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop, the Lightning were not only able to kill the penalty, but preserve the Lightning’s lead heading into the first intermission.

As we mentioned before, the Tampa Bay Lightning came out like a shot in the first period and really set the tone for the game. When the buzzer sounded to end the first period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would lead the Colorado Avalanche 1-0. Speaking of pressure, the Lightning would outshoot the Avalanche 15-9 in the first period. We have a pretty good feeling the Colorado Avalanche did not have a pleasant 20 minute intermission.

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When the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for the second period of play, they wasted no time in applying some salt to the wound they opened in the first period. Just 1:39 into the second period of play and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos scored a beautiful tic-tac-goal to extend the Tampa Bay Lightning’s lead over the Colorado Avalanche to two.

Unfortunately for the Avalanche, the Tampa Bay Lightning captain wasn’t done just yet. Just under four minutes after his amazing tri-pass goal, Steven Stamkos would strike again. Once again, Vladislav Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat would set up Stamkos down the center. Even from his knees, Steven Stamkos can still put the puck in the back of the net.

When the buzzer would sound to end the second period of play, the Tampa Bay Lightning would lead the Colorado Avalanche 3-0. Needless to say, whatever sort of tongue lashing the Avalanche received during the first intermission, we have a feeling it was threefold this time around. On the bright side, the Tampa Bay Lightning registered a second straight solid period of play.

Much like the first period of play, the Tampa Bay Lightning would outshoot the Colorado Avalanche 12-8. This would bring the overall shots on goal to 27-17 through 40 minutes of play. This is one of the most offensively-minded games we have seen from the Lightning so far this season.

Last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning was generally pretty strong in the third period of play. If the Tampa Bay Lightning could generate the same kind of pressure they did during the first two periods of play, the Bolts would be well on their way to earning themselves a playoff spot.

The Tampa Bay Lightning would, in fact, come out in the third period much like they did in the first 40 minutes of play. While the puck may not have hit the back of the net quite as quickly as the other two periods of play, the pressure was all the same.

Just over the halfway point in the period, the Tampa Bay Lightning would continue to pile the salt into the open wound of the Colorado Avalanche. After Hedman takes a shot down the center and towards the net, Varlamov deflects the puck out in front. Unfortunately, the puck would head right for a ready and waiting Tyler Johnson who would snipe the rebound and extend the Lightning’s lead to four.

As the final minutes began to tick off the clock, the Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves in an interesting position. The Lightning would head to the Power Play as Avalanche defenseman Zach Redmond would make his way to the box for two minutes for Slashing. Exactly one minute later, the Tampa Bay Lightning would end up with a 5-on-3 as Gabriel Landeskog was sent off for Tripping.

Unfortunately, as good as the Tampa Bay Lightning has been tonight, they were still unable to capitalize on the Power Play. Unlike some of the other games the Lightning has played this season, their lack of production on the Power Play has not affected the Lightning’s ability to make a positive impact on a game.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Tampa Bay Lightning would shut out the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. This would extend the Tampa Bay Lightning’s current win streak to three in a row. Tonight’s 4-0 shutout victory is the second shutout for Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop this season.

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One of the most obvious improvements in tonight’s game is the Tampa Bay Lightning’s increase in offensive pressure. Unlike some of the more painful games we’ve seen so far this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning truly played a full 60 minute hockey game. A game in which their consistent offensive pressure was the difference maker. At the end of the game, the Lightning outshot the Colorado Avalanche 38-21.

Another thing that seemed to make a difference in tonight’s game is the chemistry between the Lightning’s top line tonight. Steven Stamkos, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Ondrej Palat were on fire tonight; more specifically in the second period. Both Namestnikov and Palat received assists on both of Stamkos’ goals in the second.

While we love watching the Triplets together on the ice, if this kind of shakeup is what the Tampa Bay Lightning need to get back into the playoff picture, then so be it.

The Tampa Bay Lightning has two days off before they head home to the Amalie Arena on Friday night to take on captain Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bringing home a win over the Pens is going to be no easy task, but if the Bolts can manage to keep playing exactly like they did tonight, they will certainly be on the right track.

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