The well rested Bolts returned to the ice tonight to take on the San Jose Sharks. The Lightning had not played since Saturday night when despite a late surge, they found themselves on the losing end of an Atlantic division battle. After tonight, the Bolts will hit the road for a five-game western road trip. Going into their last game, the Lightning trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs by just two points. They came into tonight’s game now in fourth place in the division- eight points behind the Leafs, six points behind the Florida Panthers, and five points behind the Boston Bruins. However, all of those teams have played more games than the Bolts. The Bolts can still put themselves in a good position in the division, but they need to “munch points” and win their games in hand. Tonight’s opponents, the San Jose Sharks, came in on a three-game winning streak.
Of note, Nikita Kucherov was out of the lineup for the second straight game due to injury. Nick Paul returned to the lineup after missing six games with an injury.
Well Rested Bolts Explode in First
On Saturday night, it took until midway through the third period for the Lightning to find the back of the net. Tonight, it took under a minute and a half. Conor Geekie fired a shot and Cam Atkinson tipped it in for his third goal of the season. Atkinson has now scored in back to back games.
Tip drill!
Watch on FanDuel Sports Network.#SJSvsTBL | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/mW3x1bsvSd
— Lightning on FanDuel Sports Network (@FDSN_Lightning) December 6, 2024
But the Geekie-Atkinson duo was not done yet! Exactly six minutes later, Victor Hedman (the Lightning all time assist leader) fed Cam Atkinson and this time, Atkinson found Geekie who wristed it past netminder Vitek Vanecek.
And the Bolts were just getting started. A minute and three seconds later, Brandon Hagel got his night going with goal number eleven on the season.
Right on cue, as his first goal of the night was being announced, Brandon Hagel was breezing through Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta. Within 23 seconds, Hagel had goals number eleven and twelve on the season and the Bolts had a 4-0 lead.
“SCORREEEE!!!!” x2!!
Brandon Hagel is really good at hockey. Points in three straight games with back-to-back goals in the first period!#SJSvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/qfIabTp8lT— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 6, 2024
The two first period points for Hagel bring him up to 13 first period points, which leads the NHL.
Before the horn could blow on the first 20 minutes of play, the Lightning would get a power play opportunity. They made it count as Jake Guentzel tallied his eleventh of the season to make it 5-0.
“What a tip by Jake Guentzel!!!”
Guentzel with the heads-up tip for a power play goal! The goal gives the Bolts a 5-0 lead at the end of one, capped off by power play goals in five straight games for Tampa Bay!#SJSvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/kXb4lOD16O— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 6, 2024
New Goalie, Same Well Rested Bolts
Vitek Vanecek had seen enough of the Lightning after that first period. Mackenzie Blackwood came in to replace him to start the second period. But the Lightning attack continued.
At 4:16, Anthony Cirelli must have realized that a couple of his teammates had hit the 11-goal mark on the season, so he decided it was his turn. He took a pass from Ryan McDonagh and tipped it past Blackwood. The Sharks challenged the goal for offside. It looked close, but a review determined that it was a good goal and the Bolts led 6-0. Brayden Point notched his second assist of the night in his 600th career game.
🗣️ “Boy if that doesn’t tell you folks. If you and your kids are listening out there, get it towards the net!” – Phil
Cirelli gets in on the scoring with a tip! The goal was confirmed after review for offsides.#SJSvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/zhKrnGVVY2— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 6, 2024
Before period two came to an end, the Lightning added one more for good measure. Brayden Point made a beautiful play to get the puck to Nick Perbix. Perbix wristed his third goal of the season past Blackwood to make it 7-0 to end the second period.
“SCORRREEEE!!! Nick Perbix makes it 7-0!”
Point dishes to Perbix in the slot for his third assist of the night in his 600th game!#SJSvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/eqUc3dUhpc— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 6, 2024
Finishing the Job in the Third
The Sharks were quick to take a bite out of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s shutout bid in the third period. Alex Wennberg scored his seventh goal of the season just 14 seconds in.
The Bolts would restore their “touchdown” cushion just under six minutes later. Welcome back to the lineup, Nick Paul! Paul found the back of the net for his sixth time this season. Point tallied his fourth assist of the night on the play.
“In front, Nick Paul, SCORRREEEE!!!”
Paul gets a goal in his return from injury on Brayden Point’s fourth assist of the game!#SJSvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/BgxTX6Bic0— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) December 6, 2024
Seven Bolt players had at least two points tonights. The Lightning maintained their structure and composure to close this one and secure a much needed two points before hitting the road for a four-game western swing.
Three Stars
1- Brayden Point- 4 assists
2- Brandon Hagel- 2 goals
3- Conor Geekie- 1 goal, 1 assist- 2 points
Up Next
The Bolts will head out west for four games beginning in Vancouver on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is scheduled for 4pm.
