Hot and Cold Starts for the Lightning Through 13 Games

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It’s been quite the month of chaotic Tampa Bay Lightning hockey, with the Lightning being involved in high-shooting, high-scoring games, and just all-around enjoyable hockey.

With every season, there are going to be players who have great starts to the season, with last season’s surprise being Alex Killorn, but there are always going to be those who have a slow start, which was Corey Perry last season. As is in the name, these hot and cold streaks didn’t last long, as Killorn’s scoring dropped after Kucherov and Point returned to the lineup, and Perry saw his goal totals go up, finishing the season with 19 goals, 21 assists, 40 points.

The only notable missing pieces for stretches so far this season for the Lightning have come from Victor Hedman (injury), Cal Foote (healthy scratch), and Ian Cole (suspension). With injuries, however, come new players entering the lineup. Players like Hayden Fleury, Nick Perbix, and Phillipe Myers have shown their worth to the best of their abilities with the opportunities given to them. With that being said, we’ll be looking at each player having a hot start to the season, and others who are having cold starts.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Hot Starts:

Hot starts can mean multiple things. It can mean a lot of goals in just a few games, or a 2.0 PPG pace within the first ten games. However, some of these players aren’t up here for their points or goals, they’re up here because of their overall play.

Nikita Kucherov: 13GP, 6G, 15A, 21P

When the season started, all fans could say was “why doesn’t Kucherov shoot more?”, and these point totals are exactly why.

Kucherov has been known as a top playmaker in the league since his Hart Trophy win in the 2018-19 season. He’s scored all his goals within the last couple of weeks, and the plays he makes are simply phenomenal, plays that not even some NHL legends could dream of making without having to pause time and plan it out in the middle of the game. Kucherov is one of the few players in the league that I expect to keep up the pace for 100+ points, and could easily give himself another 110+ point season if healthy.

Brayden Point: 13GP, 6G, 9A, 15P

After a disappointing season last season, Brayden Point is looking like the Point that we’re used to. With over a point per game so far this season, we could expect Point to possibly hit 90+ points.

Being the second-line center didn’t fit him as well as expected, but with Point back on the first line with his usual linemate in Kucherov and newcomer Brandon Hagel, it seems like he’s gone back to the Point we all love.

Brandon Hagel: 13GP 5G 6A 10P

If you asked anyone before the season started if Hagel would be able to take over for Ondrej Palat on the first line, you’d be laughed at. Well, now you can laugh at them as Hagel’s season is looking amazing so far.

Hagel has fit in extremely well with the top line of Hegel-Point-Kucherov, and fans could potentially see a career year for the kid. If he keeps up this pace, we could see a 70+ point season for the former Chicago Blackhawk.

That Hagel-Point-Kucherov line is something else ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HCpt5SA0k8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 9, 2022

Nick Perbix: 10GP, 1G, 2A, 3P

If you were wondering who this player is before, you probably are not anymore. He may be new to the big leagues, but despite being new, he plays like a veteran.

Perbix started off the season and his career with an amazing game, one that was talked about a lot. Ever since then, he’s been solid. While +/- isn’t usually a stat that means anything, for this few games played for a defenseman who’s new to the league, a +5 is just mind-boggling, especially when compared to guys like Mikhail Sergachev (0), Victor Hedman (+1), and Erik Cernak (-2). If Perbix can keep up this pace, he’s going to have a bright future in the NHL.

Mikhail Sergachev: 13GP, 2G, 8A, 10P

The future of the Lightning’s defense is proving everyone wrong after signing a massive extension in the offseason, keeping him around for the next eight years starting next season. Every game it seems like Sergachev is looking to be the best defenseman on the ice at all times, and if this pace keeps up, Sergachev has a chance to get a Norris vote or two.

Honorable Mentions: Stamkos, Killorn, Hedman

Cold Starts:

With hot starts, there will be cold starts, and there are unfortunately a few on the Lightning that should start playing better in no time.

The Fourth Line:

This is the only one that will be grouped together but that’s for a reason. Unlike the hot starts with the first line, which were all for different reasons, there seem to be a lot of similarities between the issues going on with the fourth line. The first big issue is that they’re all at a +/- of -5.

For a line that was seen as underrated last season, they sure don’t look that way this season. In comparison, these same players had a +20 on average last season. Another issue is that Corey Perry is the only one scoring, but that’s mainly on the powerplay.

Lastly, age is catching up to these guys. With Pierre-Edouard Bellemare at 37, Pat Maroon at 34, and Corey Perry at 37, this line is definitely not young, and it’s unfortunately showing.

Cole Koepke: 11GP, 0G, 0A, 0P

The point totals say it all. Koepke is having a very rough time at the beginning of his career. Nobody expected him to get more than five points to start off the beginning of the season but with zero points with the season 15% done already, that’s not a great sign. Keep a close look at any roster moves the Lightning make, as there’s a strong likelihood that Anthony Cirelli will replace Koepke in the lineup once healthy.

Cal Foote: 9GP, 1G, 0A, 1P

This is not a player anyone was hoping would be on this list, but here we are. After a very disappointing start to the season, Cal Foote has been a healthy scratch for the last two games.

Foote looked like he’d have a solid place on the roster after a solid playoff year, but that hasn’t been the case. Defensemen take a while to really make their mark on a team, so hopefully this cold streak doesn’t last long.

Next. Three Observations from the Lightning’s Homestand. dark

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