⚡️Lightning Flashes📸

Here’s a photo gallery look at some of the highlights from last week’s Lightning action!

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Tampa Bay Lightning v Colorado Avalanche DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 27: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightening tends goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at Ball Arena on November 27, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Nov 27: Lightning 1 - Avalanche 4

Nov 28: Lightning 1 - Coyotes 3

Nov 30: Penguins 4 - Lightning 2 ⚡️

Dec 2: Lightning 1 - Stars 8

It was a tough week for the Lightning as they dropped all four games.

The week began on Monday (11/27) with the 2nd leg of their road trip, facing off against their 2022 Stanley Cup Final foe, the Colorado Avalanche. The Bolts fell 4-1, scoring their lone goal in the 2nd Period off an Anthony Cirelli breakaway. Victor Hedman earned the assist, becoming the franchise leader in assists against the Avalanche, with 14. Nikita Kucherov recorded his league-leading 36th point of the season with the secondary assist. The loss snapped their five-game point streak, as well as their five-game power-play goal streak. Tampa Bay went 0-for-3 on power-play opportunities. The Lightning outshot the Avalanche 39-23, holding the advantage in all three periods, but failing to convert.

Their 2nd game of the week, a back-to-back on Tuesday (11/28), resulted in a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Michael Carcone gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead on their first shot on goal at 3:21 of the first period. With this goal, Tampa Bay surrendered the game-opening goal in 16 of 23 games this season. The Lightning were 6-1-0 when they scored first. Brayden Point scored for the Lightning, hitting a one-timer from the left circle on a 2-on-1 rush at 15:22 of the second period. Nikita Kucherov notched his 37th point of the season, and in doing so, passed Vincent Lecavalier (9-16-25 in Nov. 2007) for the most points by a Lightning player in a single November. Tampa once again outshot their opponent in a loss, 31-27. They also went scoreless in both power-play opportunities, moving to 0-5 in power-play opportunities over a two-game stretch.

On Thursday, the Bolts returned home to Amelie Arena to host the Pittsburgh Penguins, hoping to end their pointless streak. However, the Bolts would fall at home, 4-2. They are now winless over their last five games against Pittsburgh. Once again, they fell after outshooting their opponent. This time around they took an early 2-0 lead in the 1st period. Steven Stamkos opened the scoring, and in doing so, tied Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis for the most points by a Lightning player versus Pittsburgh. Nikita Kucherov recorded another two assists in the first period. He finished the month of November leading the league in points and was named one of the NHL’s 3 Stars of the Month. Pittsburgh would go on to score two goals in each the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Saturday’s game kicked off their December campaign. The Lightning fell 8-1 after giving up three unanswered goals in the 1st period. They ended up surrendering eight goals for the first time since December 30, 2021 vs in-state rival, Florida Panthers. The Bolts also continue a dangerous trend, as they allowed the game-opening goal for the 17th time in 25 games this season, falling to 4-8-5 in those games. The pointless streak is now four games. Nikita Kucherov recorded an assist on Victor Hedman’s first period goal, extending his assist streak to a career-long nine games. The assist also gave him his 40th point of the season in his 24th game. He’s now the fastest skater in franchise history to 40 points, passing Steven Stamkos (21-19—40, 25 GP in 2010-11) Kucherov is also only the 14th NHL player over the past 20 years to record 40 points in 24 games or less.

This week, the Lightning host their previous two opponents in the Dallas Stars and the Pittsburgh Penguins, looking avenge both losses. Then they hit they kickoff a five-game road trip against the Nashville Predators and the Seattle Kraken. Stay tuned to the Bone app for your puck drop notification!

~BE THE THUNDER~

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