The Tampa Bay Lightning found their chemistry once again as they completely speared the San Jose Sharks in their first game home from their road trip.
The Tampa Bay Lightning had some work to do tonight as they headed home to the Amalie Arena for the first time in the last four games. While the Lightning didn’t find much success on the road trip, they were certainly looking to make up some ground in front of their hometown fans.
Unfortunately, there was someone who had something to say about this. Well…more like a bench full of people, we should say. Obviously, the San Jose Sharks, who have not been very giving this season in the goal department, had plenty to say about the Lightning bringing home two points in tonight’s encounter.
The question became, could the Tampa Bay Lightning kick off the Holiday Season on the right foot, getting them back on the right track as they head towards their Christmas break? Lightning fans would find themselves scratching their heads as the team took the ice for their pregame skate.
Why, you may ask? Well, it could have a little something to do with the fact Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and forward Nikita Kucherov were not paired up on the same lines. There is no realm where anyone would believe this pairing is part of the current “problem,” but when things aren’t working, something has to change.
The Tampa Bay Lightning created a lot of good opportunities for themselves in the early moments of the first period. As the Bolts approached the halfway point in the period, the Lightning would outshoot the Sharks 9-2. Needless to say, the Bolts made Sharks netminder Martin Jones work for his money in the first.
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If you were simply looking at things in black and white, you would think the Lightning were really controlling the pace of the game and had captured some sort of lead over the Sharks in the first period. Alas, this is not the way things would play out.
Just before the 17-minute mark in the game, the Sharks would strike first blood with a goal from forward Barclay Goodrow. The first-period goal would be the first of the season for Goodrow.
The Lightning had an excellent chance to tie things up towards the end of the period. Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev would fire off a heck of a shot towards the net, but he would be unceremoniously robbed by Jones. This would be where the first period would come to a close.
When the buzzer sounded to end the first period of play, the Lightning would trail the Sharks 1-0. Much like the early moments of the period, the Lightning would outshoot the Sharks. By the end of the period, the shots on goal would be 15-8 in favor of the Bolts.
Things looked a little different in the faceoff circle. The Sharks would control the faceoff circle 56-44 percent through the first 20 minutes of play.
The thing which seemed to lead to the Sharks goal in the first was a defensive breakdown. While Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy was widely caught unawares, there was really no one other than defenseman Victor Hedman in front of the net to help Vasilevskiy out.
If the Lightning wanted to get back into the game, they would have to continue their aggressiveness with the puck as well as tighten things up defensively. Honestly, this was not much to ask from a team with as much pure talent as the Lightning has on their roster.
Lightning fans may never know what was said in the locker room during the first intermission, whatever it was seemed to have a profound effect on the Bolts in the second period. It was a mere 27 seconds into the period when Lightning would strike. It would be the Lightning’s leading goal-scorer, Nikita Kucherov, who would light the lamps and tie things up for the Bolts.
Kucherov’ goal in the second would serve as his 18th of the season, bringing him to a total of 37 points so far this season. The goal also brings him into a tie with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin for first place in the league in goals.
The Kucherov goal would be the only goal in the second period, but this definitely was not due to a lack of trying on the part of the Lightning. The Lightning outshot the Sharks 16-8 in the second period for a two-period total of 31-16 in favor of the Bolts.
Yes…you read that right. The Bolts picked up over 30 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes of play.
When the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for the third period of play, they came out with the same intensity as they did in the first period. Between this and the fact they started off the period on the Power Play opened the door for the Lightning to take control for the first time this game.
The game-leading goal would be scored by forward Tyler Johnson, who picked up his fifth goal of the season. Assists on the goal were awarded to Ondrej Palat and Mikhail Sergachev. It seems some of the chemistry of yesteryear between Johnson and Palat is starting to fire once again. In addition, one simply cannot overstate the value Sergachev has added to the lineup this season.
Just when one starts to think Tyler Johnson has lost some of his swagger this season, he goes and proves everyone wrong. Four minutes and 10 seconds after his period-opening goal, Johnson picks up his second goal of the night and his sixth of the season. This is the Tyler Johnson fans want to see the rest of the season.
As the Lightning passed the halfway point in the third period, the Lightning extended their lead to three with a goal from forward Cory Conacher. This is the second goal of the season for Conacher. Currently, Conacher leads the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, in both goals and overall points.
A little over two minutes later, the Sharks would attempt to mount a comeback with a goal from defenseman Justin Braun. The lone assist on the goal went to forward Daniel O’Regan. Unfortunately, this was a case of “too little, too late” for the San Jose Sharks.
Nikita Kucherov would essentially put the final nail in the coffin of the Sharks with his second goal of the night at the final five minutes of play. This would elevate Kucherov to 19 goals so far this season. His two goals tonight would allow him to wrestle control of first place in the league in goals from Alex Ovechkin. Well…at least for now.
One of the biggest assets the Lightning had in their arsenal tonight was their aggressiveness with the puck. When the buzzer sounded to end the game, the Lightning had outshot the Sharks 43-27. That’s right; ladies and gentlemen…the Lightning pulled out over 40 shots on goal and held the Sharks to less than 30.
Another aspect of tonight’s game Lightning fans was rather fond of is the fact Bolts defenseman Slater Koekkoek actually logged some decent ice time in tonight’s game. Granted, he didn’t get as many minutes as some other defensemen we know, it is definitely a step in the right direction.
When the Lightning first announced their lineup for the night, there were many fans (including us) who were skeptical of some of the line changes made by Head Coach Jon Cooper. It seems as if a shakeup is exactly what the team needed to find their swagger once again.
We can’t imagine the lines staying like this on a long-term basis, but it definitely served its purpose in tonight’s encounter. The Lightning still has a long road on their journey to the postseason, but if the Bolts can continue to play the intelligent game they played tonight against the Sharks, they will find themselves in a comfortable position when the buzzer sounds to end the 2017-18 season.
The Lightning has a well-deserved couple of days off before they have to get back to business once again. Next up, the Bolts will swing open the doors to the Amalie Arena to take on the New York Islanders. As one could easily imagine, the Lightning will be looking to add to their league-leading point totals.
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In order to accomplish this, the Bolts will need to keep momentum on their side by coming out of the tunnel strong, setting the pace of the game early, and keeping their foot on the gas for an entire 60 minutes of hockey. After the precedent the Lightning set tonight, fans should be in for quite a show on Tuesday night.