The Bolts were able to bounce back in a 2-0 Shutout win against the Sabres. The Bolts didn’t have the best of games but still played well and got the win which is the most important thing. The Bolts defence was a huge part of this victory as they would have both goals tonight and helped vasy fend off anything the Sabres threw at them. Let’s take a look at how we got here period by period.

First Period

The First started off slow as both teams played a good defensive game, neither team was able to get many chances. Both teams were able to get out of their own zone and into the neutral but turned the puck over or only got a small shot off. The game continued like this until late in the first when the Bolts would get their first power play, The Bolts were passing the puck early on the power play and did not have many shots. However, Sergachev would change all that as he took a shot from the point that went right past Lehner to out the Bolts up 1-0. After the power play, there was not much time left and the period would end with the Bolts up 1.

Goals: 1-0 Lightning

Shots: 10-9 Sabres

Second Period

The Bolts took a penalty early in the second and would go on the PK because of a hooking call on captain, Steven Stamkos. The Sabres were able to gain some ground in the shots department but could not crack the scoreboard as Vasy and The Bolts D stood strong. The game was again an evenly played game as both teams had a few chances and both were able to force turnovers and prevent opportunity. Once past the halfway mark of the second the Bolts started to pick up the pace, the Bolts began to get a lot more shots on the net and more zone time. Dan Girardi would then get a shot from the point that was deflected and ended up in the back of the net for his first of the season, and his first as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, to make it 2-0 Bolts. The Bolts continued to play better as the period went on, with under 2 mins to go in the second the Sabres would get another chance on the power play as Braydon Coburn would get called for interference. The Sabres would look to crack the scoreboard and cut the Bolts lead to 1 but Vasy had other plans as he made a few great saves to keep the Sabres off the board, the period ended with a few seconds still left on the penalty.

Goals: 2-0 Lightning

Shots: 19-19

Third Period

The Bolts were able to kill off the rest of the penalty as the final 20 got underway. The first half of this period was once again both teams going back and forth turning the puck over, both teams would still get their fair share of chances but neither team could get one in the back on the net. In the second half of the third, the Sabres would put themselves in trouble as they put the Bolts on the power play and then took another penalty to make it a 5 on 3. The Sabres would be able to kill it off and keep the Bolts from extending the lead despite the pressure. The 5 on 3 would kill most of the time off that was left in the third and with just under 3 min to go the Sabres pulled their goalie to try and get 2 goals. The Bolts couldn’t get an empty net goal but Vasy was stellar and let nothing past him along with some great play by Yanni Gourde to clear the puck. Time would expire and Vasy would get his 6th career shutout.

Goals: 2-0 Lightning

Shots 34-26 Sabres

3 Stars

1. Vasilevskiy
2. Sergachev
3. Girardi

Up Next

The Bolts play the second part of the back to back and stay in the win column as they take on the Boston Bruins Wednesday at 7:30 PM. This will be a Wednesday night rivalry game and will be aired on NBCSN.