I wouldn’t call the Lightning a team in search of an identity. Their identity is high-end talent, solid role-guys and just enough toughness. Its based in the play of Kuch, Point, Stamkos and Hedman, with Vasilevskiy backing it up and Cooper keeping it steady. Nothing has changed up front. Look at team scoring. You could’ve written the list before game one. With Vasilevskiy out, Jonas Johansson was solid, then strong, before slipping back to below average (3.45 GAA/.892 save pctg.) as his workload grows beyond what he’s ever been called to do in his career. But Vasy’s been practicing with the team and will be back soon.
Meanwhile, as a Bruins fan, its been fun watching Bolts fans on social media. “Its been a great run but the window has closed.” “This D-corps is pathetic!” “Don’t ever criticize the Bolts!” “Burn this thing to the ground!”
But something good is starting to happen. It started with wins against the Blackhawks and the Oilers. Nobody would dispute that those teams are putrid, but you must beat the guys they put out in front of you. And the Bolts did that, solidly. Those games set the team up nicely for the iron of the league, game #19 against the mighty Boston Bruins.
The Bolts delivered in spades. Solid efforts up and down the lineup. Outshooting the league leaders 47-27. A goal by Austin Watson. Another by Tanner Jeannot on a play started by Mikey Eyssimont. Mikey was so nasty to play against all night that even Brandon Carlo wanted to fight him. Comebacks from 3-2 and 4-3, including a beautiful one-timer by Stamkos with five seconds left off a sick feed from Kucherov. And that was just to get to overtime.
And for a welcome change, OT was Tampa’s friend. Stamkos won both faceoffs. Possession was all Bolts, and Brandon Hagel put away a nasty game winner.
The win takes the Bolts into game #20 on a three-game streak with three tough games in a row. The Jets (at Amalie on Thanksgiving Eve) are looking strong this year. The Hurricanes are always a threat to go deep into the playoffs and the Avalanche are my Western Conference pick this year. Those Canes game is away on the Fat Friday and the Lightning face the Avs the Monday after Thanksgiving.
These four games (including the B’s) are going to tell us a lot about where the Bolts are going this year. A good team shows up for games like these. They sure showed up against Boston. If Tampa takes four or five points out of the stretch, they’ll be mid-pack all year. Six or eight points and you’ll see them start to rise in the standings. So, fire up ESPN+, make some turkey sandwiches and settle in.
The Morning Skate 