• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Standout Players From Game 1

By Nathan Moser September 8th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Tampa Bay Lightning wasted no time finding their game in the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Islanders on Sunday night. They produced eight goals to defeat the Isles by a final score of 8-2. It was a statement game for the Lightning, not only to their Eastern foe but to the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights who are duking it out in the Western Conference Final.

Related: Longest Stanley Cup Droughts

A few players stood out in their Game 1 triumph. The team won by committee, and everyone played a crucial role in taking the initial series lead. Who stood out in particular?

Brayden Point

In case it has not been said before, Brayden Point was a steal for the Lightning in the third round (79th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. What he has accomplished not just this season but in his career has helped his team immensely. He scored 25 goals and 39 assists in 66 games this season and tallied 41 goals and 51 assists for 92 points in 79 games in 2018-19, career-highs in all three categories.

Brayden Point, Jeff Carter
Brayden Point notched a five-point night in Game 1 with two goals and three assists. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

He has dominated this postseason, and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final was no different. He opened the series scoring just minutes after the opening faceoff to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead, his seventh goal of the postseason. He added another goal and three assists for a five-point night. He is a speedy, dangerous forward who could not be stopped.

After Game 1, Point’s postseason totals stand at eight goals and 15 assists in 14 contests.

Nikita Kucherov

Point is not the only one taking the offense by storm. Nikita Kucherov, who is already established as one of the best Lightning players in history, also had a five-point night with a goal and four assists.

Kucherov’s playoff production has been stellar. He has five goals and 21 points in 14 games, second on the team behind Point. These two are carrying the offensive load, and their talent is incredible.

It is known what Kucherov brings to his team. The past few seasons have shown what a dominant offensive force he can be. Below are his regular season stats:

  • 2017-18: 39 goals and 61 assists for 100 points in 80 games
  • 2018-19: 41 goals and 87 assists for 128 points in 82 games
  • 2019-20: 33 goals and 52 assists for 85 points in 68 games
Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning
Nikita Kucherov also had a five-point night in Game 1 with one goal and four assists. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

There was a pretty good chance that if the regular season had not been cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kucherov would have hit the 100-point plateau for a third straight season. His skill set is off the charts, and the chemistry he has with Point was a nightmare for the Isles in Game 1.

Ondrej Palat

Two things really stuck out to me in Game 1 which is why forward Ondrej Palat is on this list. First, he scored a goal to help clinch the victory. He was set up nicely by Kucherov, a player he has a lot of past chemistry with. Palat was able to slip the puck past Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov to make the score 7-2. He deserves credit for not shooting right away, and instead held onto the puck and waited for the right moment to strike.

Related: Lightning Jersey History

Second, he did a good job of screening Islanders goalie Tomas Greiss earlier in the contest when his teammate, Ryan McDonagh launched a shot that found its way in. Palat also could have provided a tip had it been necessary. That made the score 3-1 at the time.

In the 2020 Playoffs, Palat has six goals and four assists in 14 games.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning offense took the Islanders out of the game, but when he was called upon, Andrei Vasilevskiy did not disappoint in net. He is considered one of the best goalies in the NHL, and he proved it again in Game 1.

Tampa Bay Lightning Andrei Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy (AP Photo/Tom Gannam, File)

He can be the backbone of the defense, which is already stacked with Victor Hedman (who also scored in Game 1 and had two assists), McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev (had an assist), and Kevin Shattenkirk (three assists on the night) among others.

Vasilevskiy stands tall in his own right though, and that is why he is a finalist for the 2020 Vezina Trophy. In Game 1, he stopped 22 of 24 shots. He also had a .917 save percentage (SV%). His overall 2020 Playoff stats (as of this writing) is 11 wins and three losses. He has a .930 SV% and a 1.92 goals-against-average (GAA). If he continues to be a brick wall for the Lightning, success is around the corner for the club.

Depth Throughout

The Lightning have solid pieces throughout their lineup and everyone on the roster knows their role and are not afraid to step up to the plate. Game 1 was a group victory. Point and Kucherov led statistically and Vasilevskiy was strong, but there were many standout performances.

This Lightning are a machine that obtains success by working together and firing at all cylinders. That is what they dominated Game 1. The Islanders have some tweaks they need to make, otherwise this could be a short series.


Sign up for our regular 'Bolts Newsletter' for all the latest.

  • Tags
  • 2020 NHL Playoffs
  • Brayden Point
  • Nikita Kucherov
  • Ondrej Palat
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 5:55 PM
Edmonton Oilers

McDavid Has the Maple Leafs’ Number and Needs to Keep it That Way

Jan 21st 5:08 PM
Archives

NHLers by Country: On Top of Their Game and the World

Jan 21st 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Missing Klefbom and Neal on Power Play

Jan 21st 4:40 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Soucy & Sturm Look Comfortable Filling Roster Gaps

Jan 21st 4:30 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche With Career Milestones in Sight in 2020-21 Season

Jan 21st 3:45 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning & Pat Maroon Are a Really Good Fit…For Now

Jan 21st 3:35 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Depth Separates Them From the Rest

Jan 21st 3:15 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Alexandre Texier, New Faces Shine to Begin Season

Jan 21st 2:45 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Neal, Yamamoto, Tippett, More

Jan 21st 2:15 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Stützle, Norris, Galchenyuk and More

Editor’s Picks
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information