Lightning defeat the Jets 4-1

The Lightning defeated the Winnipeg Jets in a dominant 4-1 victory Tuesday night in Tampa Bay. The Lightning continue to be dominant in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning now improve their winning ways to 35 wins on the season. Tampa Bay remains in 1st place of the Atlantic Division with tonight’s victory.

The Lightnings depth continues to show up in games and play a huge factor. Dominic James got the party started with his 5th goal of the season assisted by JJ Moser and Darren Raddysh. This goal doesn’t happen without a great pass from Moser to Raddysh to James in all alone to put one past Hellebuyck. The Lightning carried a 1-0 lead into the 2nd period of this game.

Dominic James waiting for a face-off via the Tampa Bay Times

This Lightning continued their dominance in the 2nd period adding a couple goals to their lead. Darren Raddysh had himself a fantastic game tonight adding his 15th goal of the season assisted by Yanni Gourde and Zemgus Girgensons. This was all incredible effort from the Lightning’s 4th line. This line doesn’t get enough credit for how good they have been all season. The Jets would get on the board with Kyle Connor getting his 24th goal of the season on a deflection from Dylan Samberg at the point assisted by Mark Scheifele and Dylan Samberg. The Lightning would add to their lead on great pass from Nikita Kucherov allowing Yanni Gourde to put home his 7th goal of the season. Darren Raddysh and Nikita Kucherov would pick up the assists on the goal. Darren Raddysh picked up his 3rd point of the game and Kucherov extends his point streak to 7 games. The Lightning carried a 3-1 lead into the 3rd period of tonight’s game.

The Lightning would add another goal via an empty net goal from who else Nikita Kucherov to ice this game for the Bolts. This is now 27 goals on the season for Kucherov giving him 82 points on the season placing him 3rd in scoring. Yanni Gourde who picked up an assist finished tonight’s game with 3 points, and Zemgus “Big Z” Girgensons would pick up the other assist giving him 2 points on the night. Andrei Vasilevskiy was dominant again stopping everything that was in front of him besides the fluke goal in the 2nd period.

The three stars of tonight’s game go to the following players:

• Andrei Vasilevskiy 22/23 saves .957 save percentage

• Darren Raddysh 1 goal 2 assists

• Yanni Gourde 1 goal 2 assists

The Lightning will now face the Boston Bruins in the Winter Classic at Raymond James Stadium home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday February 1st at 6:30 PM ET.