The Tampa Bay Lightning come into tonight’s game on a high. They just beat the league’s top team. In dramatic fashion. The Bolts absolutely deserved that win, outplaying the Boston Bruins for much of the game. But it was a close call. It took some heroics from the Bolts’ big guns to make it happen. But make it happen, they did! The win over Boston marked the Lightning’s first overtime win in almost a full year and more importantly, extended their current win streak to three games.
Their opponent tonight also comes in on a three-game winning streak. The Winnipeg Jets come into tonight’s game with a sparkling record of 10-5-2 for a total of 22 points (same total as the Bolts in two fewer games). And so, on this night before Thanksgiving, we have a battle of two 22-point teams. A battle of two teams on three-game winning streaks. Which team would extend it to four and celebrate Turkey Day on a high note?
Jets Fly High to Start
The two teams both came out hungry and exchanged some shots. But the Jets would break through first as Josh Morrissey netted his third of the season at 5:29 to put his team up 1-0. Winnipeg was not done there! A little more than halfway through the period, Sergachev took a rather careless penalty for hooking. The Jets took full advantage of their power play opportunity as Mark Scheifele scored his seventh of the season. And just like that, the Lightning found themselves down 2-0 just over 13 minutes into the game.
The Comeback Kids
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Bolts over this three-game winning streak, it’s that they don’t give up! They have confidence in their ability to come back. Could they do it tonight?
It started later that period when they were awarded a power play. Just as happened with four seconds remaining in regulation Saturday night, a sequence of Hedman to Kucherov to Steven Stamkos did the trick. The Lightning were right back in this one at 2-1.
🗣️ @DaveMishkin "STAMKOS"
1st period: Winnipeg 2 @TBLightning 1. Kuch and Heddy assist on the power play goal.
🎧: https://t.co/BVfdPZ2Udz
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/W0bFOUhxPH— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) November 23, 2023
They came out on a mission in the second period! Early on, Tanner Jeannot tapped a loose puck in and began celebrating. But the referees were quick to wave it off. The officials had a lengthy discussion and, ultimately decided it was no goal as the Bolts had interfered with Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
The Lightning were undeterred by this setback. At 6:13, Brayden Point blasted a wicked shot past Hellebuyck. There was no waving off this one. This game was tied at 2-2.
Tampa Bay goal!
Scored by Brayden Point with 13:47 remaining in the 2nd period.
Assisted by Brandon Hagel.
Tampa Bay: 2
Winnipeg: 2#WPGvsTBL #GoBolts #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/yKLBwXs95G— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) November 23, 2023
Next Goal Wins It
The two teams battled hard for the rest of the second. The third period was much of the same as the teams went the first eight and half minutes or so without even a whistle.
The fans were definitely getting a sense that the next goal would win it. And as the final seconds ticked down in regulation, it became clear. We were going to overtime, and the next goal would, indeed, win it. So, who would it be? The Bolts finally broke their overtime losing streak last game against the Bruins. Could they start a new streak of consecutive overtime wins?
Unlike in any of their previous overtime games this year, both teams actually handled the puck and had decent chances in this one. But, in the end, it was the Jets’ Adam Lowery who fired a shot past Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson at 1:29 to give Winnipeg the win.
Overall, the Bolts earned five out of six points for this homestand and extended their point streak to four straight games. It may not have been the victory they were hoping for, but the boys in blue should still be able to enjoy Thanksgiving with pride in what they’ve accomplished this past week.
Three Stars
1- Adam Lowry- game winning goal in overtime
2- Connor Hellebuyck- stopped 31/33 shots
3- Jonas Johansson- stopped 29/32 shots
Up Next
The Bolts will pack up and hit the road for a Black Friday game against the Carolina Hurricanes. It’ll be the third matchup of the season for these two teams. They’ve split the first two at Amalie Arena. The Bolts shut out the Canes in October and the Canes returned the favor in November. Puck drops at 8pm.
