5
0
Lightning embarrass themselves with horrific Third Period.
TB-3
BOS-7
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed six goals 26 shots for the loss. He sucked. He has to be better for this team to compete with the roster in the shape it is. He’s playing so far below his ability right now it’s hard to watch and at some point somebody’s gotta say the hard truth. This team won’t win anything but a dog show if Andrei Vasilevskiy keeps playing like a replacement level goaltender.
First Period
0:21 TB Point (18), (Kucherov)
4:42 BOS Frederic (11), (Shattenkirk, Lindholm)(PP)
14:56 BOS McAvoy (4), (Heinen, Poitras)
Second Period
1:49 BOS Frederic (12), (Grzelcyk, Poitras)
7:53 TB Kucherov (28), (unassisted)
8:23 BOS Pastrnak (24), (Zacha)
15:53 TB Point (19), (Kucherov, Hagel)
Third Period
1:35 BOS Geekie (8), (Pastrnak, Lindholm)
16:34 BOS DeBrusk (8), (unassisted)(EN)
17:14 BOS Coyle (14), (unassisted)
Nikita Kucherov was the game’s second star.
5v5 xG was actually 1.46-1.18 Tampa Bay per MoneyPuck. They played decent hockey through 40 minutes of this game. But when your goaltender is out in these mean streets giving up two more goals than expected in a game where you’re trying to slay a giant, you end up looking like fools and losing 7-3.
Jack Thompson had 1 shot and 2 hits in 11:39 in his NHL debut. Paired primarily with Hedman, I think he looked good. Good skater and excellent moving the puck. I wish he weren’t pocket sized, but even at his small stature you can see he has some it factor for a 21 year old.
Darren Raddysh was -3 with 1 hit and 1 blocked shot in 17:33. Graduated from prospect status on the site tonight in one of his worst games in a Lightning uniform, sadly.
Emil Lilleberg was -2 with 1 blocked shot in 11:48 in his NHL debut. I think he’s a threat to stick. Good mobility. Willing physically. Good position and gap control. His puck skills may be the weakest link in his game and even that isn’t woefully bad when compared with some of the other LHD options.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
