It’s homecoming night, Bolts! It was a tough road trip for the boys in blue. They made stops in some of the buildings that have been hardest for them to win in over the years. As a result, they returned to home ice tonight sporting a three-game losing streak. The Bolts played well enough to win in all three of the losses, falling just short each time. They were looking to get back to their winning ways at home tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. But to add another level to the challenge, they would once again be without star center Brayden Point. Point continues to nurse a lower body injury.
Happy Homecoming, Nikita Kucherov!
Both teams played a pretty tight game throughout the first period. Neither team gave up too much sustained offensive zone time. The Bolts did get one power play and the power play continues to struggle, especially at home. They couldn’t get anything going. They managed one decent scoring chance as the penalty wound down but couldn’t beat Flyer netminder Ivan Fedotov.
This one looked to be heading into the dressing room with no score. Nikita Kucherov had other ideas. For those who haven’t heard, Kucherov has a talent for making magic in the final minute of a period. And he did it again tonight! He took a feed from Brandon Hagel in his own zone, skated all the way down the ice, right through two Flyer defenders and around the net. As he came back around, he found just the right angle to tuck the puck into the open net for his 11th of the season. Bolts took a 1-0 lead to the locker room after one.
NIKITA KUCHEROV DOES IT HIMSELF 🤯
📺: @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm pic.twitter.com/8SsXfN24pQ
— NHL (@NHL) November 8, 2024
Happy Homecoming, Andrei Vasilevskiy!
The Lightning did not get much going in the second period. They were sloppy in their own zone at times. Perhaps, their best play in the period came on the penalty kill. Brandon Hagel was causing Philadelphia all sorts of trouble. Conversely, the Lightning power play at the end of the period was probably their worst play of the period- at least the first half. The Bolts gave up a shorthanded two on zero and were lucky that Andrei Vasilevskiy was there to bail them out.
Throughout the period, Vasilevskiy definitely was the best Bolt on the ice. He stopped all 13 shots that came his way.
Can Homecoming End on a Happy Note?
The Lightning were just 20 minutes away from a happy homecoming. But they were clinging to the slimmest of leads. Defensive miscues and some sloppy play in their own zone certainly did not help their cause. But for the first 15:44 of the period, Vasilevskiy kept the Flyers at bay. But then, Owen Tippett skated in and put a backhand shot right past Vasilevskiy to tie the score.
To overtime we went. And after five minutes, the teams remained tied at one.
Shootout time.
Gage Concalves shoots for the Bolts and Fedotov makes the save.
Travis Konecny with a goal for the Flyers.
Victor Hedman for the Bolts is stopped by Fedotov.
Flyers score to win the shootout.
Three Stars
1- Ivan Fedotov- key saves when his team needed him most
2- Nikita Kucherov- beautiful goal for the Bolts’ only score of the night.
3- Andrei Vasilevskiy- Shutout for 55:44.
Up Next
The Bolts have a full week off before taking to the ice again. The homestand continues next Thursday night when the Winnipeg Jets come to town. Puck drop scheduled for 7pm.
