The Tampa Bay Lightning aim to bounce back after suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This loss marked their second consecutive setback in December. The Lightning are now preparing to face the New York Islanders in their upcoming matchup.
Tampa Bay Lightning Recent Performance
In their recent game, Brandon Hagel stood out by notching two goals. His performance contributed to a total of five multi-goal games this season, tying him for second in the league alongside Cole Caufield. Nathan MacKinnon leads with seven multi-goal games. Additionally, Hagel’s two-goal period was his eighth such incident, ranking him seventh in franchise history.
Goaltending Situation
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy remains day-to-day and did not play against the Penguins. Coach Jon Cooper anticipates his return for the clash with the Islanders. In Vasilevskiy’s absence, Jonas Johansson started and recorded 27 saves. His season record stands at 5-3-0, with a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.06 and a save percentage (SV%) of .892.
Team Statistics
- Power Play Ranking: 24th in NHL with 16.3%
- Pennalty Kill Percentage: 87.4%, ranking first in the league
- Wins When Leading After First Period: 10 games, trailing only the Capitals (12)
- Home Record: 8-6-0, including a strong 4-1-0 in their last five games.
Injury Update and Player Development
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh has also been a focus. He recently signed a three-year extension but is currently on injured reserve. McDonagh has participated in 15 games this season and contributed six points (3 goals, 3 assists).
As the Lightning prepare for their next matchup against the Islanders, they aim to rectify their recent shortcomings and leverage their strengths to secure a victory.
