The Tampa Bay Lightning (13-7-2) are on a four-game winning streak, with no shutouts. They continued on Monday, with a 3-0 win against Philadelphia (11-7-3). They scored first (Brandon Hagel, 15: 34), Second (16:00), and third (19: 45) to win.
The lightning first line of Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and Nikita Kuchereev won the game, although there is a point with the planes. Kuchereev led the way with three assists and a plus-3 plus/minus, but Hagel had two goals and an assist on the night. Cirelli also got a goal and an assist, so Hagel and Cirelli are now third and fourth on the team in points (behind Jake Guntzel and Kuchezel).
Andrei Vasilevskiy had another solid performance in net, stopping all 20 shots he faced. That included changing the power play of the flyers that went on. Philadelphia actually outscored Tampa Bay 20-18, and they had more chances on the power play (2 to 1), but Vasilevskiy was in VEZIINA.
A respected Lightning in the Preseason all the way back. With 28 points, Tampa Bay continues to the No. 1 spot in the Atlantic, as many people predicted in the Offseason. The Flyers, meanwhile, sit at 25 points, ruling them in the mosh pit of wild-card contention.
Brandon Hagel is back to himself
It’s amazing to think that Hagel was dealing with a build-up at the start of the season. At the start of the season, he was frustrated, hitting just one reliever in his first seven games. Since then, he has 11 goals and 10 points in his last 15 games.
Related: Brandon Hagel’s scoring reconciliation
In his last two games, Hagel has gone nuclear, scoring a combined four goals, three assists, and seven points. His 11 goals are tied for second on the team behind Guentzel, and he’s proven to be a starting talent on the passing line. On Monday, he had a goal in the first and a netter-netter in the third to seal the win.
Also, it’s crazy how much Hagel has improved since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks. In his first full season in Tampa Bay (2022-23), he had 64 points in 81 games, and in 2024-25, he had 90 points in 82 games. If the latter is any indication, he could keep turning well over a point per game.
Vasilevskiy is on fire
Vasilevskiy has been on fire this season. His .911 save percentage (SV%) is sixth in the NHL, lower than last season’s tally of .921, but in the most recent stretch, it looks like he could surpass that number.
In his last four games, Vasilevskiy has allowed just three goals. On the road against the Florida Panthers on November 15, he saved 22 of 22 of 23 shots. At home against the New Jersey Devils on November 18, he stopped 31 of 32. Against the Oiders in Edmonton on November 20, he stopped 25 flyers, saving all 20 flyers. It was the 41st shutout of his NHL career.
If Vasilevskiy can keep this pace, he could be the favorite for the Vezina trophy and, especially with the recent news of Connor HelleByck, it doesn’t matter, no lightning fan should worry about their netminder.
Tampa all the way back
In early October, lightning had one of its worst spells in recent history. In the first seven games of the season, they were 1-4-2. They were one of the worst teams in the league, and everyone but Khechechel, Guentzel, and struggled.
Fast forward to the end of November, and the lightning is rolling. They are back all the way back down from the bottom of the Eastern Conference. With 28 points and a four game winning streak, they are now the atlantic.
The depth, such as Charles-edouard d’Astous and Dominic James, has increased, and JJ Moser has filled in well as the No. 1 left Devinseman due to injury to Ryan McDonagh. Tampa is three points ahead of the wild card teams, so anything is possible, but Lightning fans should feel that Tampa Bay is still a team to be feared in the Eastern Conference.
