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Tampa Bay Lightning Game 58: versus the Vancouver Canucks

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1.

After playing for 11 years with the Canucks, this was the first time Mattias Ohlund played against his former team. Martin St. Louis scored his 650th career point. Tampa Bay now has a four-game winning streak, and are currently sitting in 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

Yes, that right – 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Lightning were outshot 40-18 by the Canucks. Antero Niittymaki got the start and was fantastic in goal. In his last eight starts, he is 7-0-1. Tampa Bay was very lucky to have picked him up in the offseason. I’m sure Finland will be better than expected in the Olympics simply because of him. Over the course of those last eight starts, he has a .965 SV% and a 1.09 GAA.

Joining Niittymaki in his awesomeness was Marty St. Louis. His short-handed goal was just the second one for him this season, but it was also the 28th of his career. He also scored two goals in one game earlier this season, back in October.

He and Steven Stamkos generated some great scoring chances. And the goal that went to Stamkos was a good one as well, which was all his 33rd on the season. Stamkos has been gradually getting better with his faceoffs again, but he’s still not doing very well in that area of his game – which, being a center, that’s not a good thing.

Vincent Lecavalier is doing well with his faceoffs. He was 10-6 on the night, which is a winning percentage of 63%. He was also robbed by Roberto Luongo. The play was reviewed, but since the call on the ice had been a no-goal, and it wasn’t entirely conclusive to the officials that he puck went entirely over the line in Luongo’s glove, the call stood. Though, just between you and me, I think it was conclusively over the line.

The defense overall did a fantastic job in keeping the Sedin twins from playing their game. Daniel Sedin had four shots, but Henrik Sedin only had one. And considering that Henrik Sedin had been the leading scorer in the NHL for much of the season – although, he’s now currently second behind Alex Ovechkin – that’s quite a feat. So the defense, led by Ohlund, should get recognition for keeping them not just off the score sheet, but out of the game.

The next game is at home versus the Boston Bruins on Thursday, 11 February. Game time is the customary 7:30 pm Eastern. So come on out and cheer on the Lightning in this winning streak.

[As a personal note, I would like to apologize for not getting these game recaps out consistently lately. I live in Northern Virginia, and the snow storms have been wrecking havoc with the electricity and the internet. Once the storms clear up, I’ll go back to posting these things on a more consistent basis. Thanks for your patience – and thanks for reading!]

Canucks vs Lightning coverage [SB Nation]

Nucks Misconduct [SB Nation Vancouver Canucks site]

Canucks vs Lightning recap [TSN]

Canucks vs Lightning boxscore [TSN]

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