Tampa Bay Lightning Too Close For Comfort, Set Franchise Record
By Ben Ebert
The Tampa Bay Lightning made franchise history tonight with their 10th-straight victory in a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Rangers despite an unfocused effort.
Streak. Winning. Dominant. These are words many would use to describe what the Lightning have accomplished after setting a new franchise record for most consecutive wins. After all, this is the team on pace for a historic season; this is the first team in the NHL standings to reach 100 points on the year and are the no-doubt favorites to cruise into the postseason with the Presidents’ Trophy.
That is precisely how they looked tonight, like a team on cruise control. Here are three more accurate words to describe tonight’s performance: lazy, disinterested and uninspired.
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Despite the Bolts taking an early 2-0 lead in the first period, just as they did in their previous game against Los Angeles, they coughed up that lead to the Rangers and found themselves in another overtime period with a non-playoff contender…again, like they did against the Kings.
Misplayed pucks along the blueline plagued the Bolts’ ability to get their offense clicking from the 2nd period on and failed clearing attempts gave New York too many second and third opportunities in sustained zone time. One failed clearing attempt almost cost the Lightning the game when Nikita Kucherov sent a backhanded cross-ice pass, with just 69 seconds on the clock, looking for Dan Girardi to be driving up the ice. Instead, Girardi was down near the crease and the Rangers took possession and nearly capitalized on a full minute of offensive zone time at the end of regulation.
One positive, other than the obvious of getting the win off of Victor Hedman’s wrister, was the Lightning’s No.1-ranked penalty kill staying hot and forcing the Rangers’ power play to go 0-for-6 on the night.
Other than the fact every game and every point matters in the NHL, no matter how comfortable a cushion a team may have in the standings, it’s not as if Tampa Bay had nothing to play for. This team was seeking to break a franchise record and had multiple guys on the roster going up against their former team, including former Ranger captain Ryan Callahan who was put into Tampa Bay’s fourth line for the game.
Ever since GM Julien BriseBois asserted his faith in this lineup after the trade deadline, the Lightning have played on their heels, as if they are relaxed with where they see themselves. Sure, the Bolts are still winning. But it’s best not to fall too far into a habit of underperforming, especially when the rest of the NHL views you as Goliath.
Nuts and BOLTS:
–Tyler Johnson earned his 300th career point, scoring the first goal in the game.
-Nikita Kucherov reached 104 points on the season, putting him just four shy of tying Vincent Lecavalier’s franchise record of 108.
-Backup goalie Alexander Georgiev made his 20th start in net for the Rangers.