The REAL Lightning came to play tonight as they played a full 60 min and defeated the Sharks by a score of 5-2. Both teams played a great game in the first and second period but the Bolts took control of the game in the third. This game started out as a defensive game as both teams turned the puck over and had some trouble getting any quality chances. That would change late in the second as both teams got some better looks, but only one cashed in. Let’s take a look at how we got here period by period.

First Period

The First started out pretty slow as both teams were able to get the puck into the zone and took their time finding the shot they wanted, however, both teams also shut down those opportunities and kept the game scoreless. It wasn’t until late in the first when Sharks forward Barclay Goodrow could cash in on a rebound that Vasy had kicked away to put the Sharks up 1. Despite the scoreboard, the Bolts had outshot the Sharks and were looking much better.

Goals: 1-0 Sharks

Shots: 15-8 Lightning

Second Period

The early parts of the second were more of the same from the first, however, this time the goal would come early in the period rather than late. Ondrej Palat sent a beautiful pass across the ice to Tampa’s top scorer Nikita Kucherov who lifted it right past Martin Jones to tie the game at 1. Both teams would get a powerplay opportunity but neither of them could get one in the back of the net so the game stayed tied at 1. The Bolts, however, did begin to pick up a lot of steam as they racked up 16 shots and were outplaying the Sharks when they were in the offensive zone. Someone needed to break this tie and that would have to happen in the third.

Goals: 1-1

Shots: 31-16 Lightning

Third Period

The Bolts dominated the last 20 min as they came out flying and spent most of the period playing in the offensive zone. The Bolts would break the tie just over 2 minutes into the third as Tyler Johnson raced passed the defense to grab a puck that came bouncing off the boards, and went top shelf to make it 2-1 Bolts. Johnson wasn’t done there as just a few min later he sent Victor Hedman on a breakaway, Hedman couldn’t get it past the Sharks netminder as it bounced all the way in the air and came right back down as a sharks defender tried to clear it out. Johnson wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste though as he jumped on the rebound and put it in the back of the net for his second of the night and to make it 3-1 Bolts. The Bolts continued to feed on this momentum as with just under 9 min to go, Corey Conacher found himself all alone in the right circle and he made no mistake to put the Bolts up 4-1. The Sharks would get one back as Justin Braun let one go and was able to put it past Vasy to make it a 4-2 game. Kucherov, who must have missed scoring, decided he wasn’t done ad he made a fantastic defensive stand and put himself on a breakaway where he rifled one home for his second of the night and put the Bolts up by 3 again at a score of 5-2.

Goals: 5-2 Lightning

Shots 43-27 Lightning

3 Stars

1. Tyler Johnson
2. Nikita Kucherov
3. Ondrej Palat

Up Next

The Bolts will look to continue this homestand with another win as they are set to take on the New York Islanders Tuesday, December 5th, at 7:30PM.