Deeper Team Issues & Ranking Kucherov Among Lightning Greats
A look at deeper team issues and we look at how Kucherov stacks up against Lightning greats.
Welcome to the THW Tampa Bay Lightning Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Lightning writers.
In today’s edition, we look at why Vasilevskiy’s return has shown the team’s deeper issues, where Kucherov ranks among Lightning greats and more!
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Andrei Vasilevskiy’s Return Reveals Deeper Issues with Lightning
December 29, 2023 by Nick Haydon
Early adversity can often fortify a team, and many, including myself, saw Vasilevskiy’s absence as an opportunity for the team to establish themselves without the superstar goaltender, only to be boosted by his return. Anyone who has watched the Lightning since Vasilevskiy’s first game on Nov. 24 knows that this has been anything but the case. The Lightning have posted an 8-8 record–not exactly the run you hope for with a future Hall of Fame goalie. The mediocre record is not a reflection of Vaislevskiy’s performance. His play, while not quite to the level we have come to expect, has been solid (8-7 record, 2.78 goals against average (GAA), and .907 save percentage (SV%)). Instead, Vasilevskiy has, oddly enough, highlighted the underlying issues plaguing the Lightning. The team cannot rely on goaltending to hide or fix these issues if they want another shot at a Stanley Cup.
Kucherov at 300 Goals: Ranking Him Among Lightning Greats
December 28, 2023 by Harrison Smajovits
The Tampa Bay Lightning fell to the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Wednesday night, but there was still a moment of celebration. When Nikita Kucherov got the Bolts on the board early in the third period, he scored the 300th goal of his career. The 30-year-old forward has impressed for some time now, so this milestone is no surprise. However, it’s still impressive to look back at what he’s already accomplished and what he’s on pace to achieve among the all-time Lightning greats.
What the Numbers Tell Us After 35 Games
December 27, 2023 by Jordan Orth (Substack Premium Content)
Welcome to our deep dive into the statistics and numbers of the Tampa Lightning season and what they have told us about the team so far!
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