Tampa BAE Lightning: Game 45 & 46
On a slow news day, the Lightning give us something to talk about
The Tampa Bay Lightning are starting another 4 game road trip through the Atlantic Division with a brief pit stop in Chicago. Tonight’s game is against the Toronto Maple Leafs and tomorrow they will face the Montreal Canadiens in a back-to-back.
Since we’re doing something new with the game previews, I’m going to try and push them out a day in advance—hence the 2-fer write up tonight.
For the first game, it will be the 3rd time the Bolts face the Leafs this regular season. So far their success against the Leafs has been limited. The Bolts dropped the first game of the series back in October with a final score of 5-2 with Vasy in net, next came a game on Nov 30th which also was loss. A final of 5-3 with Vasy in net.
Tonight’s game will be Jonas Johansson in net. I don’t think that’s unrelated to the first two performances.
On October 21st, Vasy finished with a .714 save percentage after allowing 4 goals on 14 shots. Jojo finished that game and allowed 1 goal on 15 shots for a .933 save percentage.
November 30th, Vasy played the entire game, but conceded 4 goals on 28 shots with a save percentage of .857.
I really don’t mind the move here. Jojo was going to play either tonight or tomorrow anyway. He had a decent performance against the Leafs where Vasy hasn’t so far this year. Why not try?
The Lightning offense has come alive recently and beat the Red Wings soundly in their last game. The Leafs have been pretty decent, too. They got right winning two in a row including a 7-3 thumping of the Canadiens after dropping 3 straight against Carolina, Vancouver, & Dallas.
The Leafs will be without Max Pacioretty, John Tavares, Calle Jarnkrok, Jani Hakanpaa, and Anthony Stolarz while the Bolts welcome back Max Crozier with Erik Cernak and JJ Moser still out.
Following tonight’s game the Bolts keep rolling through Canada with a game against the Montreal Canadiens. It’s the 2nd game this season against the Canadiens with the first being a 5-2 loss with Jonas Johansson in net.
Jojo let in 4 goals on 36 shots for a save percentage of .889. Are you seeing the reason for the goalie switch yet?
The Canadiens continue to be very plucky rattling off wins against Dallas, Washing, Colorado, and Vegas—this is a team that cannot be overlooked anymore.
Especially with their new secret weapon in net, Jakub Dobes. He’s played 5 games. Won 5 times. Has a goals against average of 1.55 and a save percentage of .940. That’s wild. Call it rookie luck, call it unsustainable, call it whatever you want really, but it’s impressive.
The Bolts have their work cut out for them tonight and tomorrow. A strong start in these games will set up the rest of the road trip nicely. Falter out of the gate and now you’re chasing points instead of munching them.
Should be two great nights of hockey. Go Bolts!
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