The perils of a California street swing that featured three video games in 4 nights took their toll on Tampa Bay final week, leaving the Lightning aiming to rekindle a out of the blue stagnant offense.
After managing one purpose in every of its losses at San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim, Tampa Bay returns dwelling to host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday evening.
The Lightning began the journey with a 2-1 loss to the Sharks final Thursday earlier than falling to the Kings by the identical rating two nights later. The offensive struggles continued Sunday in a 4-1 loss to the Geese that matched a season-long four-game skid for Tampa Bay.
“Ultimately, we scored three targets in three video games,” mentioned Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who appeared as drained and dejected after Sunday’s sport as his group did on the ice.
“It is powerful to win whenever you’re not scoring, and we have been used to scoring rather a lot this yr. Lot of men on this group who’re used to placing it in could not put them in on this journey.”
Anthony Cirelli (15 targets this season), Victor Hedman (5 targets) and Jake Guentzel (21 targets) tallied for Tampa Bay in California. The Lightning entered the journey main the NHL with 3.94 targets per sport however have since dropped to second at 3.70.
“That is powerful to swallow,” Cooper mentioned.
Carolina has earned factors in 4 of its previous 5 video games (3-1-1) courting again to a 5-2 win on Dec. 28 towards New Jersey. As he did in that win, top-line heart Sebastian Aho has performed a pivotal function within the Hurricanes’ success this season.
Aho had a purpose and an help to assist Carolina beat the Devils, and he buried the game-winner in Sunday’s 4-3 additional time victory over Pittsburgh. It was Aho’s thirteenth purpose this season and put him at 600 profession factors, becoming a member of Ron Francis and Eric Staal as the one gamers in franchise historical past to take action.
“This final short time right here he is been very noticeable,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour mentioned of Aho, who was solely on the ice for seven seconds in additional time. “Even when he isn’t on the rating sheet he is been round it. That is the man we’d like and also you usually see.”
Aho has seven factors in his final 5 video games (two targets, 5 assists), leaving him with 43 factors this season. He trails solely Martin Necas, who has 47 factors, together with a team-high 32 assists. Jack Roslovic leads Carolina with 17 targets.
Seth Jarvis is coming off a two-goal, one help effort towards Pittsburgh and has eight factors in his final 5 contests.
Tuesday’s sport is the make-up of an Oct. 12 contest that was postponed as a result of results of Hurricane Milton in southern Florida.
Tampa Bay notched a 4-1 win at Carolina within the groups’ season-opener on Oct. 11. Nikita Kucherov tallied a third-period hat trick to propel the Lightning to the win. Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 55 factors and had an help on Sunday.
–Area Stage Media