The Tampa Bay Lightning are riding a notable momentum as they prepare for their upcoming match against the New York Islanders. The team recently secured their second consecutive win, defeating the New Jersey Devils 8-4. This victory was marked by outstanding performances from players including Oliver Bjorkstrand, who scored two goals, and Nikita Kucherov, who recorded four assists.
Key Players and Performance Stats
In the game against the Devils, several Lightning players contributed to the scoreline:
- Oliver Bjorkstrand: 2 Goals
- Jake Guentzel: 1 Goal
- Brandon Hagel: 1 Goal
- Brayden Point: 1 Goal
- Darren Raddysh: 1 Goal
- Nick Paul: 1 Goal
- Pontus Holmberg: 1 Goal
Goaltender Jonas Johansson was solid, making 33 saves on 37 shots. Kucherov’s four assists contribute to his impressive career record. He now has seven career games with four assists, ranking him among the top active players in the NHL.
Injury Updates
Despite the team’s success, several injuries have impacted the Lightning’s lineup. Star goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) on Monday. Vasilevskiy has not played since the Lightning’s match against the Islanders on December 2. This season, he has a record of 11-6-2, a 2.31 GAA, .917 SV%, and one shutout.
Victor Hedman has also been placed back on IR and is expected to be sidelined until early February. Hedman has had an injury-plagued season but managed to appear in three games after returning from a previous injury.
Current Lineup Insights
Jonas Johansson has stepped up in Vasilevskiy’s absence, starting five consecutive games. Thus far, Johansson holds a record of 2-3-0, with a 2.26 GAA and .920 SV% during this stretch. However, his career record against the Islanders is less favorable at 1-4-0, with a GAA of 3.86 and SV% of .877.
Another player to watch is Dominic James, who is currently day-to-day. He has recorded five points in 19 games this season, notably scoring Tampa Bay’s only goal against the Islanders in their prior encounters.
Special Teams Performance
On the special teams front, the Lightning boast the second-best penalty kill in the NHL, with a success rate of 85.9%. While their power play ranks 22nd with a 17.9% success rate, they capitalized effectively during their last game, converting two out of three opportunities.
As the Lightning prepare to take on the Islanders, they carry a solid road record of 10-4-2 this season, with a 2-2-0 mark in December. The team’s current form and player contributions will be crucial as they face their rivals next.
