NHL Game Night: 12-29-11 Canadiens at Lightning

[BP Staff]

Staying alive by the skin of their collective teeth.

MTL- 3
TB- 4

Mathieu Garon allowed 3 goals on 34 shots for the win. He made some key saves that his counterpart at the other end simply did not.

First Period
TB Stamkos (23), (Kubina, Downie), 3:43
MTL Cammalleri (8), (Desharnais, Diaz)(PP), 8:42

Second Period
MTL Desharnais (6), (Kostitsyn, Diaz), 5:01
MTL Cole (15), (Pacioretty, Kaberle), 12:46
TB Wyman (1), (Purcell, Gilroy), 17:38

Third Period
TB Bergeron (4), (Downie, St. Louis), 2:32
TB Lecavaler (13), (Wyman, Moore), 8:37

Steven Stamkos and JT Wyman were the game's first and second stars.

On balance, this was another subpar effort, but the Lightning, with help from Price, found a way to manufacture another result that they desperately needed. They can't live on a diet of being outshot and outchanced, though. The overall product still needs to improve as the team tries to reach .500 against Carolina.

Wyman had his first NHL goal and an assist and was +2 With 1 shot and 1 hit in 7:01. His goal was horrifically soft by Carey Price, and as often is the case with soft goals it was the difference in the game. His hard work has been infectious, though.

Blair Jones had 1 hit in 6:56. He's gone back to being a bit of a non-factor, seeing as his best hit of the night was to careen into the Canadiens goal with no one within a country mile of him in the first period. If he isn't careful, Wyman is going to take his roster spot.

Box score from NHL.com.



http://www.boltprospects.com/content...iens-lightning

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by BP Staff

If he isn't careful, Wyman is going to take his roster spot.

Yep. On the way home, I was trying to think who would be the odd man out if Wyman kept playing the way he did tonight. I came up with the same answer.

[the_narrow_way]

Likewise.

[Donnie D]

The real question is what to do after Connoly is finished with the world juniors.

[timothy]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

The real question is what to do after Connoly is finished with the world juniors.

There's no question at all IMO. insert his butt back into a Top 6 or 9 role. We need him. No doubt he needed a break from the lineup for a few games, similar to Stamkos during his rookie season.

IMO he's looked really good at the WJC's, though not getting much accolades from press. He's not playing a flashy top line sniper role, but he's showing that he is one of the most complete forwards out there. He's showing what he is already learning playing on the NHL squad. He's playing physical, he's playing defensively responsible, playing a little in all situations and more as the tourney has progressed, and he's scored in all three of Canada's games.

[Hoek]

Yeah there is a hole in that top 6 without him IMO.

[Donnie D]

Sorry Tim, I guess i wasn't clear. The discussion was who was the odd man out when Nate returned and we were all guessing who it would be and we were all coming up with the same name. I was suggesting a more difficult decision was who comes out of the current lineup when Connolly returns?

[timothy]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

Sorry Tim, I wasn't clear. I meant, who comes out of the current lineup when he returns?

Ah. Blair Jones IMO. Pushes Wyatt or Pyatt back to the 4th line. IMO, the way Connolly has been playing in the WJC's you could put him on a scoring line or on the 3rd line with Moore and Hall.

We also now have trade bait that wont hurt us.

[astro]

Originally Posted by WaiverWire

We also now have trade bait that wont hurt us.

Connolly or Jones?