Tampa Bay Lightning: Top 5 Standouts of the Regular Season
Here’s a closer look at the Top 5 Standout Players from the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 25th Anniversary Season.
As the 2017-18 NHL season comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the best of the regular season. As a top team in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning has a lot to be proud of.
First off, the Bolts finished the regular season on top of the Eastern Conference, with 113 points. After a disappointing season the year before, which resulted in the Lightning missing the playoffs, the Bolts advanced to the playoffs with the first seed.
The first round proved easy for the Bolts, quickly advancing after winning four games out of five against the New Jersey Devils. Then, even with an opponent like the Boston Bruins, the Lightning succeeded again, advancing after only five games.
The Lightning moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years. Even though the results were not what Bolts Nation hoped for, this is a huge accomplishment for our team.
Tampa Bay also had the honor to host the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend in January. A weekend jam-packed with the celebration of Gasparilla, five individual Lightning players were elected to the Atlantic Division team.
Another highlight of the season is the Lightning celebrating the 25th season as a team. Various events went on throughout the season, including the retirement of Vinny Lecavalier’s jersey. Lecavalier’s number is the second number in Lightning history to be retired. Former captain Martin St.Louis‘ number was the first, retired in January of 2017.
A season of many achievements involves the community, the organization, and the team. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, this includes each individual player that had any contribution to the season. Here are the top five standouts for the Tampa Bay Lightning this regular season.
1. Nikita Kucherov
This player is obviously a given. Nikita Kucherov finished off the season with 100 points in 80 games. A career best for Kucherov, the Lightning forward was only behind Connor McDavid and Claude Giroux for overall points in the league.
With seven game-winning goals, Kucherov put on a show for the Bolts the whole season, helping the team have the highest goals per game for the season, at 3.5 goals.
Kucherov was an All-Star this season, and looking back, the Bolts Nation had a lot of fun watching this young star shine. One of his best moments? Beating Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby through the five-hole in the All-Star game.
What made it even better? On February 20, Kucherov did it again, this time against Holtby at home to give the Bolts a 4-2 lead over the Capitals.
Kucherov stayed consistent on the first line, along with teammate and captain Steven Stamkos. The third linemate, however, seemed to change every now and then. Originally it was Vladislav Namestnikov. Once Namestnikov was traded to the New York Rangers, forward J.T. Miller took his spot.
Kucherov has one more year left on a 4.8 million dollar deal. Starting July 1st, the Bolts can sign a new deal with Kucherov, for the 2019-2020 season.
Steven Stamkos
The captain of the team, Steven Stamkos, proved his ability this season. In year’s past, Stamkos has often watched the game off the ice. This year, Stamkos only missed four games, staying healthy the whole season.
The year before, Stamkos played a mere 17 games mainly due to a meniscus tear in his right knee. The lack of a captain may have resulted in the Bolts missing the playoffs in the 2016-2017 season.
The year before, Stamkos battled with a blood clot that forced Stamkos out for the last few weeks of the regular season and the playoffs. Stamkos was able to return for Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it was not enough.
Regaining his health this season, Stamkos notched 86 points in 78 games played. Showing off his skills with Kucherov, Stamkos was involved in many key games to push the Bolts to a deep run in the playoffs. Stamkos especially had success on the Power Play, recording 15 power play goals and 33 total points on the power play.
Stamkos was one of five Lightning All-Stars to make the Atlantic Division team. The Lightning captain was voted the captain of the All-Star game and helped the team beat the Metropolitan team to advance to the final.
Even though the Bolts fell short this year, Stamkos’ constant determination this season proved we need our captain to lead the way to the Stanley Cup. With Stamkos healthy, the future is bright for Bolts Nation.
Andrei Vasilevskiy
There is no better word to describe Andrei Vasilevskiy other than a rock. This season, Vasilevskiy proved time and time again that he is a top goaltender in the National Hockey League.
And the NHL agrees as Vasilevskiy is nominated for the Vezina Trophy for the 2017-2018 regular season. Vasilevskiy is up against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Vasilevskiy tied for the lead in wins overall with 44 on the season. With a .920 Save Percentage and 2.62 Goals Against Average, Vasilevskiy held the team on his back throughout the season.
Even though the Bolts led the league with the highest goals per game average, there were many cases throughout the season where a win would not have been possible without our starting goalie.
In a tied game against the Los Angeles Kings, Vasilevskiy proves his killer goaltending skills. Anze Kopitar seems to have a Power-Play goal when Vasilevskiy catches the puck in his glove, behind his back. Impressive hand-eye coordination kept the Bolts in the game.
Vasilevskiy also represented the Bolts in the NHL All-Star Game this season. This was Vasilevskiy’s first All-Star appearance.
In just a full year as the starting goalie, Vasilevskiy has shown his worth for this team. In the season before, Ben Bishop was traded to the Kings, further entrusting the at the time backup goalie Vasilevskiy with the Bolts future. With this season at an end, he has demonstrated his potential for many years ahead.
Brayden Point
In his second NHL season, forward Brayden Point racked up the points for the Bolts. In 82 games, Point scored 66 points, third on the team behind Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos.
Point recorded 12 game-winning goals for the season, which this statistic alone shows how significant of a role Point had in the regular season.
Point originally did not make the All-Star team. However, once Victor Hedman announced he would not play in the game due to a lower-body injury, Point had hope. Later on, the NHL announced that Point would now be an All-Star.
Not only is this a huge honor for Point, it also puts his name out there for many teams and fans to see what he can do as a young player.
Victor Hedman
In his ninth season with the Bolts, defenseman Victor Hedman is still at the top. Through 77 games played, Hedman brought home 17 goals and 48 assists for a total of 63 points. These numbers afforded Hedman the top spot on the team in goals among defensemen,
Hedman was named as a finalist for the Norris Trophy for this past season. Hedman is among some pretty good company, going up against Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Los Angeles Kings d-man Drew Doughty.
Hedman was also one of the four Bolts elected to the NHL All-Star Game. However, after sustaining a Lower-Body Injury, he was unable to play in the All-Star weekend. Brayden Point then replaced Hedman on the Atlantic team.
In addition to his normal duties, Victor Hedman was a key component to the Lightning’s Power Play unit. Hedman notched 26 of his 63 points on the Power Play this season.
A strong team always needs a strong defense. Victor Hedman, with the help of some other key veteran defenseman, does just that for the Bolts.
Next: Ryan Callahan To Miss Start Of Upcoming Season
There were a lot of strong performances on the team this season, but as you can see, there are some who elevated their game to a whole new level. If this season has taught us anything, it’s that the future is definitely bright for the Tampa Bay Lightning.