Lightning Strikes | Bolts trending in right direction heading into the break

Plus: What do you want to know about the Lightning?

 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Friday, January 27, 2023 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters [DIRK SHADD | Times] Heading in the right direction The Lightning's 3-2 home win over the Bruins Thursday night might have been their best of the season. They've probably had better overall performances, but getting a hard-earned, defensive-minded victory against the team that's been unquestionably the best in the league — especially after losing their first two matchups — was huge.    And even though Boston owns the NHL's best record, it was a reminder that the road to the Stanley Cup final in the Eastern Conference goes through Tampa.   The biggest thing I took out of Thursday's game was the way the Lightning closed it out. For the second straight game, they went into the third period tied and managed to find a way to pull out two points.   And no team has been better in the third period than Boston, which had outscored opponents 71-27 in the third and was 9-1-0 when tied after two intermissions.    After being outshot the first two periods, the Lightning took control in the third, and got a big goal from Victor Hedman the final seven minutes. Then they went into shutdown mode against the league's top second highest-scoring team.   When the Bruins went empty net for an extra attacker, Tampa Bay went into postseason mode defending a 6-on-5. Anthony Cirelli made a shot block that led to a clear, and Lightning players laid their bodies out to prevent the puck from getting to Andrei Vasilevskiy.   The Lightning have now won 11 of 16 games this season in which they've been tied after two periods.    And unlike their first two meetings with the Bruins, they held Boston to two goals or fewer — the Lightning's tried and true formula to victory. Combine their win over Boston and another fine all-around performance Tuesday against Minnesota, and the Lightning are trending in the right direction with one game left before the All-Star break.    They'll also go into Saturday's final game before the break against the Kings with a chance to set a new franchise record for the longest home win streak. They've won 11 straight at home, tying the team record set Dec. 23, 2019 – Feb. 15, 2020.  [DIRK SHADD | Times] Time for a Lightning All-Star break Q-and-A The Bolts are off next week, so it seems like a perfect time to have our first Lightning Strikes question-and-answer feature. What are your burning questions regarding the Lightning at this point in the season? Ask away by responding to this email and I'll address them here in next week's newsletter. Don't forget to leave your name and home city in your response.  [DIRK SHADD | Times] In case you missed it ... • Steven Stamkos lifts Lightning to victory over Wild   • Persistence pays off for Lightning's second-team power-play unit   • Lightning GM Julien BriseBois looks to make trade deadline magic again   • Before All-Star break, Lightning face tough test at home   • When it come to Steven Stamkos' goals, he's called them all Gain unlimited access to Lightning, Buccaneers and Rays coverage for about $1 a week! Subscribe now Upcoming games  Saturday: Lightning vs. Kings, 7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb. 3: NHL All-Star Skills Competition, Sunrise, 7 p.m., ESPN   Feb. 4: NHL All-Star Game, Sunrise, 3 p.m., ESPN   Feb. 6: Lightning at Panthers, 7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun    Feb. 7: Lightning vs. Sharks, 7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb. 9: Lightning vs. Avalanche, 7 p.m., ESPN   Feb. 11: Lightning at Stars, 1 p.m., ESPN+/ABC    Feb. 14: Lightning at Avalanche, 9 p.m., Bally Sports Sun    Feb. 15: Lightning at Coyotes, 9 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb. 18: Lightning at Golden Knights, 10:30 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb. 21: Lightning vs. Ducks, 7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun    Feb. 23: Lightning vs. Sabres, 7 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb. 25: Lightning at Red Wings, 8 p.m., Bally Sports Sun   Feb: 26: Lightning at Penguins, 6 p.m., Bally Sports Sun Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard. Did someone forward this to you? Get Lightning Strikes in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, conditions & copyright Standard of accuracy © 2023 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. You are receiving this email because you signed up for the "Lightning Strikes" newsletter from the Tampa Bay Times. If you’d prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe from this email.