Tampa Bay Lightning Highlights: Adam Erne Scores First-Ever NHL Goal (Video)
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Adam Erne scores his first-ever NHL goal as the Bolts take on the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Tampa Bay Lightning was faced with an epic challenge tonight. The Lightning, who are scratching and clawing to acquire a spot in the postseason, are currently taking on the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If the Lightning has any hopes of emerging successfully and bringing home a much-needed two points against the Penguins, they are going to have to bring their ‘A’ game and play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey. Unfortunately, if the Bolts keep the pace they’re currently on, the Pens are going to have a field day.
The Lightning has been solid when it has come to puck possession and keeping the puck out of the hands of the Penguins, but the Lightning offense has struggled to put shots on goal and really kick the game into high gear. That is…until now.
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The Bolts definitely got off to a slow start, but it would be the Boys in Blue who would strike first and take the early lead over the Penguins. Included in this would be yet another team milestone. This time, the horn sounds for Lightning rookie Adam Erne.
Things really started to kick into high gear as Lightning forward Cedric Paquette chased the puck into the Penguins zone. Paquette would use his speed to be the first one to the puck. Unfortunately, Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel would be right on Paquette’s heels.
Ultimately, Paquette would come up with the puck. Paquette had little time to make a decision on what to do with the puck before he risked turning it over to the Pens and having the play rush back in the other direction. Quickly, he saw Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov open and sent the puck back to him.
Almost instinctively, Namestnikov passed the puck to Lightning rookie Adam Erne, who was all alone in front of the net. Erne pulled back his stick without hesitation and fired off the puck. As the puck sailed past Penguins netminder Matt Murray, Erne would finally get to celebrate his first-ever goal in the National Hockey League.
Words cannot describe how much this particular goal excites us. Adam Erne has been one of our favorite selections Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman has made since making his way here to the Bolts Nation.
Unlike some of the other players on the team, Erne is fully capable of using his size to his advantage to make some huge hits. Also, he has tremendous speed behind his size and is capable of taking the play from one end of the ice to the other.
In the past, Erne hasn’t always been given the fair shake he deserves. It’s nice to see he’s finally getting a real chance to show the world what he can accomplish when allowed to play his game.
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As we mentioned previously, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not going to take this goal lying down. Lightning fans can be assured the Pens will start to turn on the pressure and if the Bolts want to continue to hold the lead and bring home the two points, they’ll have to be ready to play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey.