We’ve fallen behind in our first goal series, and with the Lightning enjoying a couple of days off, we decided to rectify that situation by posting a couple of the newest Bolts to record their first NHL goals. It’s been a rather busy year for first NHL goals as three members of the organization found the back of the net for the first time. We wrap things up (for now) with Gage Goncalves.
He’s number 93 in your programs, but number 6 in our hearts (or at least our latest prospect rankings). The man we’ve come to call Over-Age Gage is in the midst of his first extended look in the NHL following a brief two-game debut last season. Through 19 games he has one goal and one assist while racking up 14 shots on 27 shot attempts and a 1.09 iXG. While he’s not throwing his hat into the Calder Trophy race, it’s a perfectly fine showing for the 23-year-old second-round pick out of the 2020 draft.
As usual, the Bolts have taken their time developing Goncalves, who has shown that he can produce at the AHL level with 151 points (43 goals, 108 assists) in 217 games with the Syracuse Crunch. The offensive production hasn’t quite carried over to the NHL level just yet, but he is holding his own defensively, with the Lightning posting slightly below water numbers when he’s on the ice (49.73% SF%, 46.37 XGF%, 50.72% HDCF%).
As for the eye test, Goncalves is adjusting to the speed of the NHL. Some of the plays he could pull off in the AHL haven’t been there at the top level, and he’s had some turnovers (Natural Stat Trick has him with 13 giveaways), but every game seems to be better than the one before. Throw out the three-turnover game against Columbus and he has just one giveaway in his last five games.
The offense is there, and while he is more of a playmaker than a finisher, his shot plays better than expected. Now that he has the first goal off of his shoulders, it wouldn’t be surprising if he racks up a couple of more.
It took 18 games, but Goncalves finally put one in the back of the net during the Lightning’s 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. It was a big insurance goal for the Lightning who were scuffling their way a bit despite being up 2-1 at the time. Here is a tip for any other Lightning rookies that come through the system this year (or in any future years). If you want your first NHL goal, get on the ice with Nikita Kucherov as much as you can.
It’s a bit hyperbolic to say Kucherov did all of the work on this play, but he was a huge factor in the play. It all started in the Lightning zone as the Blues had possession of the puck looking to tie the score after Pavel Buchnevich had scored a minute earlier in the game. Jordan Kyrou winged a shot that flashed through the crease to the far boards. The only person there to retrieve the puck was Nikita Kucherov.
If you’re a defender, there are fewer things more disconcerting than seeing Nikita Kucherov skating toward you with open ice. Yet for Tyler Tuker (#75) that’s exactly what he saw when he looked up at the Lightning blueline.
With three Blues players caught behind the play (two behind the net and one in the crease) it was off to the races for Kucherov and Goncalves. Tucker does have some support in the form of Scott Perunovich, so it was a two-on-two, but Kucherov is such a smooth skater that it’s hard to recognize the speed that he generated through the zone. Tucker wisely conceded the neutral zone to buy some time and not have Kucherov deke him and create a two-on-one.
The speed does have the St. Louis defenders retreating as they cross the blueline, and two little things help create space for the Lightning attack.
The first is a subtle little shoulder twitch from Kucherov that made it look like he might split the defenders. That froze Perunovich a little and opened up the eventual passing lane to Goncalves. Meanwhile, Ryan McDonagh is skating as hard as he can behind Kucherov to give him a second passing option. That drew Tucker (#75) away from Kucherov after a half-hearted attempt to stick-check him at the blue line.
Goncalves was just off the right side of the screen waiting for the puck to cross the blueline to see he can join the fun. The pass was a tad off and handcuffed Goncalves a bit. He made a nice move to kick it up to his stick and glanced up to see what his options were.
To the Blues credit, they have the play covered pretty well. McDonagh, at the far post, is not an option as Tucker had inside position on him. Goncalves could tap the pass back to Kucherov, but Perunovich had him covered as well, and Brayden Schenn (#10) was making a beeline for him as well. The other two Lightning players (Brayden Point and Nick Perbix) are changing on the play, so there was no support behind Goncalves and Kucherov.
His original plan was to give it back to Kucherov.
“I was looking to give it back to him right away, but he kind of peeled off. So, I just tried to throw it on net, and happy it went in,” Goncalves said after the game.
It was just a sliver of space that Jordan Binnington gave him, but the rookie found it for his first goal.
It didn’t look like the goalie was screened as Perunovich had cleared his vision by the time the shot went off, Goncalves just beat him glove-side with a nice accurate shot.
Goncalves wasn’t even sure it went in at first,
“As soon as I shot it, I kind of peeled off to the side. So, I had no idea it went in until I locked eyes with McDonagh, and he was like ‘It’s in! It’s in!’ So it kind of caught me off guard.”
That wraps things up for this year’s edition of First Goals. At least for now. Stay tuned to see if anyone else joins the club before the end of the season.
