It’s been a very successful homestand for the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have tallied a point in each of the first four games of this stretch, sporting a 3-0-1 record. Netminder Jonas Johanssen has come up big for his new team with shutouts in the previous two games. Tonight marks the final game of this pre-Halloween homestand. The Bolts’ opponent is a team that has never beaten them before- the Seattle Kraken. The Kraken have struggled this season. They look to take a step in the right direction tonight and take down the Bolts for the first time in team history.
Attack of the Kraken
It did not take long to identify the hungrier team in this matchup. The teams exchanged chances for the first few minutes of the opening frame. And then the Kraken took over. They dominated the shot clock and ultimately ended Johanssen’s shutout streak at 132 minutes and 8 seconds. Brian Dumoulin’s first goal of the season put Seattle up 1-0. And they were not done. One minute later, a familiar face to the Amalie faithful would double that lead. Former Bolt Yanni Gourde scored his second of the season.
The Lightning responded in a big way as last year’s trade deadline acquisition Tanner Jeannot banked the puck home just 29 seconds later to pull the Bolts back to within a goal.
A lil trick, a lil treat 😏 pic.twitter.com/XeUplCW0Iv
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 30, 2023
But Seattle just kept on coming. They took advantage of a Lightning penalty to restore their 2-goal lead with just over 4 minutes remaining in period one. At the end of the period, the Kraken took that lead as well as a 20-9 shot advantage to their dressing room.
Bolts Make Some Adjustments
It was clear after the first frame that the Lightning would need to make some adjustments if they wanted to make a game of this one. They definitely showed some improvement as they matched the Kraken chances pretty evenly for the whole 20 minutes.
The only goal of the second period came on a Lightning power play. At the 3:40 mark, Alex Barre-Boulet tied his season high total for goals with his 3rd of the season.
Got one back! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/LqL2Tl6WKK
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) October 31, 2023
With the goal, he extended his point streak to four straight games. Barre-Boulet has definitely been a welcome addition to the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov thus far this season.
Final Frame of the Halloween Homestand
The Lightning started the final frame trailing by a goal. They desperately wanted to keep their home point streak alive. But the Kraken came on strong and the Bolts’ defense seemed to struggle. Seattle had blown more leads this season than any other team in the league. So, the Lightning knew that patience would be key.
With five and a half minutes remaining, their patience paid off. After a flurry of activity in front of the Kraken net, Brandon Hagel tipped the puck in to tie the game at 3-3.
Tampa Bay goal!
Scored by Brandon Hagel with 05:28 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Anthony Cirelli and Alex Barré-Boulet.
Tampa Bay: 3
Seattle: 3#SEAvsTBL #GoBolts #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/G2RM2G9WCB— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) October 31, 2023
The Bolts had a glorious chance to win this one in the dying seconds, but Tanner Jeannot missed an open net to keep it a 3-3 tie.
The Overtime Horrors Continue
To overtime we go. Three on three overtime had not been kind to the Bolts this year. In 2 games thus far, they had been outshot 7-0 and had barely managed to touch the puck. Tonight was not much better. The Lightning did get one good opportunity, but Nikita Kucherov’s shot rang off the post. Then, Nick Paul was whistled for a penalty. The already struggling in overtime Bolts would now be a man short. Seattle took full advantage as Jared McCann scored at 2:53 to win it 4-3.
The Lightning are now 0-3 in overtime this season and have been held shotless. On a positive note, they do have a 6-game home-point streak as they have managed at least one point in every home game this year.
Three Stars
1- Jared McCann- Game Winning Goal in OT
2- Tanner Jeannot- first multi-point game as a Bolt
3- Alex Barre-Boulet- 1 goal, 1 assist
Up Next
The Bolts head out for a four-game road trip starting in Columbus Thursday night at 7pm.
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