At times the NHL schedule makers seem more good than lucky. Tonight, the opponent for the Tampa Bay Lightning is the Hurricanes. Specifically, the Carolina Hurricane. Making the schedule makers look like Nostradamus. After two weeks of the greater Tampa Bay area fighting off two major traditional hurricanes, the 2024-25 season begins with the boys fighting the Hurricanes. As my friend Todd Johnson asked me: Isn’t it ironic? Maybe it is, maybe it is what’s needed for our community. One win, two points in the first game of 82 isn’t critical. Though a victory on the road against a good Carolina team would do wonders for the team and our community. Beating the Hurricanes after the beating Helene and Milton took on our homes would lift a lot of tired spirits. It just might take a storm surge from Tampa against the Hurricanes.
Season Opener
Like all new seasons, there’s a lot of new faces. Also, we’re missing some old faces. But as with every season opener, hope springs eternal. Due to some of the hurricanes passing through the Tampa area, their pre-season schedule saw a couple games canceled. Understandably, their overall game seemed a bit sluggish at the outset.
We did see in this first period, the first Lightning power play without Steven Stamkos is well over a decade. Darren Raddysh had the unenviable role of replacing Stamkos on the power play. They were held without a shot. We also saw the first penalty kill of the season. It was impressive to hold Carolina without a shot.
As the period went on, both teams appeared to be shaking off the cobwebs. Passes were crisper on both ends. Skating speed began to pick up. With a little over five minutes remaining, the Lightning were outshooting the Hurricanes 8 to 2. Though still a scoreless game, Tampa had Carolina a bit on their heels.
Just like that, Brandon Hagel coughed up the puck in the Lightning zone. William Carrier of Carolina jumped on the puck, went behind the net and fed Jordan Staal. Staal was right in front of the Lightning net and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Boom. Goal by Staal and the Hurricanes grabbed the game’s first lead.
Where’s the Lightning Storm Surge?
As the second period passed the two minute mark, the Lightning went back on the power play. Twelve seconds into this power play, Brayden Point tied the game at one. Point, in the bumper slot, got a great pass from Nikita Kucherov and Point didn’t fail. All alone in front of goalie Freddie Andersen, Point hit the top shelf past the Carolina netminder.
Brayden Point, good at this hockey thing pic.twitter.com/kpleSZbbef
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 12, 2024
Even though for the bulk of the first period, the Lightning had the ice tilted in their favor, it was different in the second. Sure, they tied the game with that early power play but it was the Hurricanes that were surging in the middle frame. They had a handful of odd man rushes and each time, Vasilevskiy stood tall and denied everything.
The period ended in the 1-1 tie. Vasilevskiy was the difference so far in this game for the Lightning. The game has the feel that the next goal could also make the difference.
Here is the Lightning Storm Surge
This game was taking on the feel of the kind of game that the next goal wins. Both teams had been tied at one since early in the second period. Halfway through the final period, the game was still knotted at one.
Just past the eleven minute mark of the period, Anthony Cirelli drew a penalty putting Tampa on another power play. Like Helene and Milton before them, the Lightning struck fast. Six seconds into this man advantage, Nikita Kucherov blasted a shot past Andersen to give Tampa the 2-1 lead.
Nikita Kucherov, 2-1 Lightning 🎯 pic.twitter.com/rIs1CnT6zK
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 12, 2024
The question is can this Lightning team hold this slim lead on the road against a good team? As the minutes flew by on the time clock, it seemed the Lightning defense was standing tall. As the clock was about to reach the two minute mark, Kucherov scored an empty netter making the score 3-1, Lightning. To add to the celebration, Kucherov scored another empty netter to score a hat trick and make the final score 4 – 1 in favor of Tampa. Take that, Hurricanes. Lightning storm surge proved hard to beat.
Stars Of The Game
- Nikita Kucherov – Scored a Hat Trick and assisted on the only other Lightning goal that he didn’t score.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy – Stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced despite multiple odd man rushes.
- Brayden Point – Opened the scoring with a power play goal.
What’s Next
The Lightning host the Vancouver Canucks next Tuesday at Amalie Arena. Puck drops at 7:00 pm.
