Bolts finish big week with another win

by Gary Shelton on January 29, 2023

in general

Perbix had three assists.TIM WIRT

Sunday, 4 a.m.

Okay, guys. Take a rest. You've earned it.

The Tampa Bay Lightning completed a superb week Saturday night, bouncing the Pacific Division-leading L.A. Kings, 5-3.

It came during a week when the Bolts had also beaten the Minnesota Wild and the the best team in the NHL, the Boston Bruins. The Bolts have now won a franchise record 12 straight games at home.




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Hedman scored on the Bolts' only shot in the third./TIM WIRT

“Three tough teams," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "Big, strong. fast playoff teams and our guys handled it well. The one thing that was a little worry was after a big one against the Bruins and our pending break was how we were going to handle the game and were we going to look past it. We didn’t. We got the points we needed. It makes for a better break.

"You look at the odd man rushes we gave up in all three games combined. When we do that we’re a much better team and you're keeping teams below three goals. That’s what you want to do to give yourself a chance."

They now take a break for the all-star game and do not resume play until Feb. 6, when they visit the Florida Panthers.

The game seemed as if it might be a trap for the Bolts, just coming off the big win over Boston and facing the week off ahead, but the team played well enough to win comfortably.

They won the third period even though the team got only one shot -- a clinching goal by Victor Hedman.

In all, Brayden Point, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Corey Perry and Ross Colton scored goals for the Bolts. Nick Perbix had three assists on the night.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy won his 22nd game, including his 10th in a row at home.

Perry scored his ninth goal./TIM WIRT

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