The Tampa Bay Lightning line-up received a defensive boost as forward Tyler Motte returned to action after missing the last 10 games due to a hand injury suffered on opening night. He played 16:36 and recorded 3 shots on goal, threw 3 hits, and was credited with 1 takeaway.
For most of the night he teamed up with Alex Barre-Boulet and Anthony Cirelli and the line recorded three scoring chances and six shot attempts, but were on the ice for one of the Maple Leafs goals. Motte was also second on the team in shorthanded ice time with 3:30. He had a really good shift on the penalty kill in the first period where he recorded a shot, fell on the puck and covered it for a few seconds before getting back up and making a nice pass to a teammate to help keep control of the puck which led to Toronto taking a penalty.
Mikey Eyssimont was scratched in order to make room for Motte in the line-up with Austin Watson drawing in on the fourth line. With the Lightning playing back-to-back games, there is a chance that Eyssimont, who has three goals on the season, will be back in to face the Canadiens.
Lightning / NHL News
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