Lightning Snap Two-Game Skid With 4-1 Win Over Penguins

The Tampa Bay Lightning won its sixth straight game at home and snapped a two-game losing streak after beating the Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 on Thursday night. 

The game was played just as head coach Guy Boucher would have liked, with a five-man unit on defense. Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson had 33 saves and was arguably the team’s most valuable penalty killer last night.

Tampa Bay had goals from Brett Connolly, Steve Downie, and two goals from Vincent Lecavalier. Two of the Lightning’s goals came on the man-advantage, where the Pittsburgh Penguins have dominated all season long. Prior to tonight’s game, Marc Andre Fleury only let one goal in on the man advantage, helping Pittsburgh to an NHL leading 94.9 percentage on the power play. 

After struggling on the road, Tampa Bay played a complete game Thursday night and did everything they needed to do in order to win. The Lightning were outshot 32-18, but did everything else right including blocking shots (25) and getting their sticks on the puck. There could have been more offensive pressure from the Lightning, who let Pittsburgh have 11 straight shots in the second period and were outshot 14-6 in that period as well. They did, however, improve their defensive efforts with a complete five-man unit.

I just think this was one of the most complete games the Lightning has played as a team all season (all 19 games so far).There weren’t any stupid mistakes, they capitalized on special teams, and they improved their efforts on forechecking. 

Lecavalier’s unassisted goal was the Lightning’s first shot of the game, which came at 8:38 of the first period after he stole it in the offensive zone. It looked like another slow start for the Lightning but after the captain’s goal, the team started to generate more pressure and quality shots on Fleury. 

Then, in the second period, the Lightning went on the man advantage after Tyler Kennedy was called for high sticking. Dominic Moore took a shot from the point and Connolly tipped it in, giving the Lightning a two goal lead at 4:08 of the second period. Connolly’s goal is the first on the man advantage that Fleury has given up all season.  

The Penguins had a multitude of chances to find the net and almost did when they went on the power play in the second period, even having a shot go off the post. Roloson was forced to make some unbelievable saves and was the main reason why Tampa Bay kept Pittsburgh off the scoresheet.

Steve Downie extended the Lightning’s lead to three goals after finding the back of the net at 2:02 of the third period. 

It was the Roloson show after that.

Roloson robbed an Evgeni Malkin one-timer and stopped two Steve Sullivan backhanders.

Lecavalier then scored his second of the game with an empty-netter with 4:11 left.

Fleury was pulled with a little over four minutes left to go in the game, which did help the Penguins score a goal but ultimately didn’t do much for them. Even stranger was that Fleury was pulled again after that, giving Pittsburgh a one man advantage, which doesn’t seem worth the risk when the Lightning could have easily score another empty-netter.

The Saint Petersburg Times three stars of the game were 3. Vincent Lecavalier (two goals) 2. Victor Hedman 1. Dwayne Roloson (33 saves).

Lightning lead Penguins 2-0 After Two

In the early minutes of the second period, the Tampa Bay Lightning had the man advantage when Penguins center Tyler Kennedy was called for high sticking at 2:29. The call created some frustration behind net from Penguins players before Kennedy decided to skate off and serve his time. Tampa Bay then went up 2-0 when Dominic Moore took a shot from the point and Brett Connolly tipped in the shot for his first power play goal of his career. Connolly’s goal was the first power play goal Penguins goalie Marc Andre Fleury gas given up this season.

The Penguins had numerous chances on both of their power play opportunities, including a shot that went off the post after Victor Hedman was called hooking. Dwayne Roloson was their best penalty killer and has kept the Lightning in this game, saving all 21 shots he has faced so far.

Lightning grab lead 1-0 After First Period

The Lightning had another slow start to the first period but found the net first after killing off the game’s first penalty, a tripping call to Steven Stamkos at 6:10. Vincent Lecavalier stole the puck in the offensive zone and backhanded it behind Marc Andre Fleury.

Tampa Bay generated more offensive pressure against the Penguins and killed off another penalty when Ryan Shannon went to the box for goalie interference. The Lightning looked pretty good although Lecavalier’s goal was the team’s first shot of the game, which came at 8:38 of the first period. But, the score is the most important stat and the Lightning lead by a goal after one period played. I still think they had a slow start to the game but I think they balanced it out after Lecavalier’s goal.

Lightning vs. Penguins: Guy Boucher To Coach His 100th Game

Believe it or not, tonight’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins will be head coach Guy Boucher’s 100th game with the Bolts, and his 100th game as an NHL coach. Where did the time go?

Boucher took over as head coach of the Lightning before last season, and he’s led them to a 54-32-13 record in the meantime. He’s been a coach in the same vein as Rays skipper Joe Maddon – unconventional, yet unafraid to go against the grain. His 1-3-1 system has drawn lots of ire from opposing teams at times, but it’s proven effective and is one of the main reasons why the Lightning made it so far in the playoffs last season.

In talking with Damian Cristodero from the Tampa Bay Times, Boucher had some interesting words to share on what it’s like to coach in the NHL:

“One guy missing can make all the difference in the world depending on who he is and what his role is. Circumstances can have a much greater impact in this league than in junior or in other leagues. If you’re tired, you’re not the same team at all; the size difference between your team and another team. You can get away with that in the lower ranks and other leagues. But in the NHL, it’s incredible, the minute you make a mistake or have a weakness somewhere, you’re in major trouble. It’s a very delicate balance in this league, I find.”

These are the sort of quotes I love: when coaches (or players) break away from tired cliches and give you a glimpse into their world and thought-process. Boucher has been successful with the Lightning over his first 100 games, and based on the amount of thought he puts into running the team, I have no doubt that they will continue to flourish over the next hundred…or so.

Lightning Vs. Penguins: Tampa Bay Hosts East-Leading Pittsburgh

The Lightning (8-7-2) hope to end their two-game losing streak Thursday night when they take on the Penguins (11-4-3) in a rematch of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.