The Tampa Bay Lightning were able to secure their second straight victory tonight with a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Bolts defeated the Kings for the second time this season.
Survive the First & Dominate the Second
Although the Lightning left the first period with a 1-0 lead, it was all Kings in the first twenty minutes of play. Los Angeles completely dominated the Bolts in period number one, applying a great deal of pressure on Ben Bishop, and outshooting Tampa 19-6. Still, the Lightning were able to survive.
In period two, the Bolts were able to do some dominating of their own, increasing the score to 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. Not only did the Lightning score three times in the second period, they managed to do it on eight shots. Unlike so many other times this season, Tampa Bay was able to keep momentum on their side, making a third-period comeback for the Kings difficult to pull off.
Big Night For Bolts' Stars
The Tampa Bay Lightning were able to have such a great game because some of the team's best players were able to step up and have impressive outings.
Both Jonathan Drouin and Nikita Kucherov had strong nights offensively. Drouin recorded a goal and an assist, while Kucherov lit the lamp twice. In addition, Tampa were able to see a little bit of "the old Ben Bishop" as he put forth a very strong effort between the pipes.
Although the best Bolt, Steven Stamkos, has been dearly missed, this team still has tons of talent. It was a breath of fresh air for the Lightning to see some of their stars come out and have a strong game.
Just a Much-Needed Win
Yes, Tampa Bay's shot at making the postseason this year is still slim. However, tonight's decisive victory provided the Lightning with some much-needed positivity. In a season that has seen its fair share of disappointment, it was great to see the Bolts rolling on all cylinders and post a blowout.
Up Next
After tonight's big victory, the Lightning have a couple nights off before they take on the Wild on Friday night in Minnesota.
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