The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their winning ways as they made it 5 consecutive wins and the captain Steven Stamkos helped lead the Bolts in another well-played game. The Avs wouldn’t be the ones to stop the Bolts as they fall by a score of 5-2 and continue to struggle. Let’s take a look at how we got here period by period.

First Period

This one would get off to a quick start as the Avs played like they were at the top of the league. The Avs struck first as Landeskog let one go that went right past Budaj to make it a 1-0 Avs lead. It looked like it was gonna be another long game for the Bolts, but not if Steven Stamkos had anything to say about it as he stormed into the zone and slipt one past Varlamov to tie the game at 1. The Bolts would get their first powerplay opportunity when Carl Soderberg set a puck out of play for a delay of game penalty. The Bolts would get a few chances late in the powerplay, however, the Avs did a good job of blocking the shots and prevented the Bolts from capitalizing. Over the next few minutes, the Bolts did a great job of holding the puck in the offensive zone but the Avs did an even better job of blocking and disrupting shots to keep the Bolts from breaking the tie. Avs forward Gabriel Landeskog would take a penalty with just under 10 min to go, this one for slashing. Despite a few great chances, the Avs would once again shout down the Bolts powerplay unit. The Bolts wouldn’t let off the pedal though as Chris Kunitz was able to get his stick on an incoming shot that deflected into the net to put the Bolts up 2-1. The Avs would later get a huge chance as Sven Andrighetto had a wide open net but couldn’t pull the trigger right away and was turned away by Peter Budaj. A few minutes later Stamkos would get caught up at the blue line and Erik Johnson took it down to the other end where he got one to slip by Peter Budaj to tie the game at 2.

Goals: 2-2

Shots: 17-7 Lightning

Second Period

The second would start off pretty even as both teams look alive and well. The Avs would get their first powerplay opportunity when Victor Hedman took a hooking call. The Avs would get a few chances but the Bolts defense shut them down and kept this game tied at 2. Both teams continued to play hard but the tie would not be broken until Stamkos centered one to Namestnikov who had slipped around the back of the net to make it 3-2 Bolts. The Bolts would get another powerplay opportunity after Varlamov tripped Callahan in front of the net. Kucherov would ring one off the post but the Bolts couldn’t get one past Varlamov and the score would remain 3-2. Neither team would budge in a tightly contested game and it would head that way into the third.

Goals: 3-2 Lightning

Shots: 27-16 Lightning

Third Period

The Bolts came out looking to extend their lead and they would get that opportunity once Mikko Rantanen headed to the box for holding the stick. It was a great night for the captain as he found Mr. Harvard, Alex Killorn, who ripped one home to make it 4-2 Bolts. Peter Budaj wasn’t having a stellar game but he was great on turning away the Avs on the breakaway to keep the Bolts in front. The Bolts would once again get a powerplay chance but still no luck. Anton Stralman would then take a penalty to give the Avs one last chance and to raise the steaks the Avs would pull their goalie to make it a 6 on 4. The gamble would not pay off as Brayden Point cleared it out into the net for an empty net goal to make it 5-2 Bolts. This is how the score would remain and that meant another LIGHTNING WIN!

Goals: 5-2 Lightning

Shots 32-30 Lightning

3 Stars

1. Steven Stamkos
2. Vladislav Namestnikov
3. Tyler Johnson

Up Next

The Bolts will look to end the homestand on a positive note as they will take on the Winnipeg Jets Saturday, December 9th, at 7:00PM.