Tampa Bay Lightning Highlights: Brian Boyle Tip-In Sparks Bolts Late In First (Video)
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brian Boyle got a piece of a shot from defenseman Victor Hedman to spark the Lightning late in the first period against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Tampa Bay Lightning may have spent a good portion of the season shrouded in doom and gloom, but things are definitely looking a lot brighter here in the Bolts Nation over the last couple of games. The consistency and aggressiveness the team started the season with have finally started to return.
Tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning finished off their back-to-back weekend series with a stop at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg to take on the Winnipeg Jets. As you can imagine, with the Lightning where they are in the standings right now, the two points in tonight’s contest are much-needed.
The Lightning started things off just past the halfway point in the period with a goal from rookie forward Brayden Point. As time continued to tick off the clock, it became apparent the Lightning would enter the first intermission with the advantage. Surprisingly enough, the Bolts weren’t done just yet.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Everything would start when Lightning forward Valtteri Filppula won the faceoff in the offensive zone. Without a single hesitation, the puck sails out to defenseman Jake Dotchin. Almost immediately, he sent the puck across the ice to a ready and waiting Victor Hedman.
Hedman didn’t even wait for the puck to reach him before he had his stick pulled back and ready to fire off the shot from the blueline.
As the puck sailed towards the net, Lightning forward Brian Boyle would get a piece of the puck, slightly redirecting it as it sailed towards Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
What happened next, you may ask? The lamps were lit and the Lightning would head into the first intermission with a two-goal lead over the Jets.
If there is any particular change we can attribute the Lightning’s recent success to, it’s having a strong player positioned in front of the net to handle redirections and rebounds. Many of the Lightning’s goals have been a product of the aforementioned situations.
One of the strongest players to put in this position is Brayden Point. The chemistry between Point and Jonathan Drouin has grown exponentially over the last few games. Combine Drouin’s speed with Point’s accuracy and tenacity and you have one heck of a dangerous combination.
Next: Brayden Point Breaks The Ice Against Jets (Video)
The Tampa Bay Lightning still have a long and winding road ahead of them if they want to salvage what it left of the season and make a last ditch attempt at making the postseason. If the Lightning continues to play the way they have over the last few games, it’s going to be one exciting ride.