Submitted by chad on September 12, 2015 - 22:19

Tampa Bay Lightning prospects made a statement in the first game of their own prospect tournament, beating a talented Nashville squad, 5-1, in Estero, Florida.

The Lightning scored five unanswered goals after Kevin Fiala opened the scoring on the power play for the Preds, making the most of their 27 shots. Tampa Bay goalies Kristers Gudlevskis and Adam Wilcox stopped 36 of 37 shots in the win.

Gudlevskis allowed the only goal, but if not for his early strong play the Predators would have led at least 4-1 at the end of the first period.

Tampa Bay got on the board when Brayden Point took a forward feed from Dylan Blujus and beat Juuse Saros glove side to make the score 1-1. Adam Erne earned the secondary assist on the goal.

In the second, the Lightning capitalized on their first power play – perhaps a sign of an improved power play organization-wide this year – when 2015 second rounder Mitch Stephens gathered a loose puck outside the crease and backhanded the puck home. Jake Dotchin and Anthony DeAngelo worked the puck at the top of the zone before getting it on net. It hit a scrum that included Erne and Point before bouncing out to Stephens.

Stephens’ fellow 2015 pick Mathieu Joseph made it 3-1 minutes later, shoveling home another loose puck at the side of the net after 2015 pick Antony Cirelli and 2014 pick Cristiano DiGiacinto did the dirty work to keep the puck in the zone. That line was tough all night and Joseph certainly earned the break for the goal.

“I think our line did very well tonight,” Joseph said. “We’re three young players in the organization and we worked hard and we play simple and we keep possession of the puck and played our style and I think it went well.”

Stephens notched his second goal of the night midway through the third period, stealing the puck from a Nashville defenseman and cutting into Nashville goalie Brandon Whitney before dekeing around him and smoothly sliding the puck into an open net. Adam Wilcox, who had just made an underrated blocker save on a shot labeled for the top corner, enabled the play. The goal was unassisted.

Rookie pro Cam Darcy completed the scoring by banging home his own rebound after he shot on a 2 on 1. In the first period he was on a 2 on 1 in the same spot and chose to pass, which never got through. Dennis Yan and Brian Hart earned the assists.

The Lightning were led defensively by Dotchin and fellow AHL second-year player Blujus. Both players are now in a leadership role for the Lightning in this, their third rookie tournament. Dotchin, who made strong play after strong play all evening, wore an alternate captain’s A for the game, along with Syracuse teammate Henri Ikonen.

“Last year was a big learning step for me,” Dotchin said. “Just being able to learn from guys like Mike Angelidis and JP Cote, Joey Mormina, the list goes on. There’s a lot of guys I got the privilege to learn from last year and [learn] how to act like a pro, so I tried to bring it tonight and I think it worked out.”

The Lightning will face the Washington Capitals on Sunday night. The Caps fell in a shootout to the Panthers, 2-1, prior to the Lightning’s game at Germain Arena.

Player Review

50 – G, Kristers Gudlevskis: No one ever said Gudlevskis wasn’t athletic or didn’t have talent. Consistency may be an issue, but Gudlevskis is tall, freakishly agile, and tonight looked like an NHL goaltender. He read plays quickly, including stopping an early re-direct with his trailing leg, and later challenging a Preds forward alone in front on a one-timer from the slot. He played half the game before giving way to Wilcox. The one goal that beat him was a back-side one-timer from the right wing circle he had little chance on. If he can sustain this level, the Lightning – and especially Syracuse – are in good shape.

32 – G, Adam Wilcox: The rookie pro out of the University of Minnesota was tested quickly after replacing Gudlveskis, getting a piece of a partially screened shot off the end of his glove and out of play. He took a point shot to the shoulder immediately following the ensuing faceoff and was settled into his groove. In the third period he made several big saves to stave off a comeback. He’s not as big as Gudlevskis or as fast, but he gets the job done and relies on his smarts. He looked much more comfortable tonight than he did with Syracuse at the end of last year in his first pro action. If Gudlevskis is the No. 2 for Tampa Bay to start the year, Wilcox will lead Syracuse.

7 – D, Anthony DeAngelo: After a so-so performance last year in which he said he was just “taking it all in,” he was more aggressive tonight and had a few rushes where he either pushed the play or made himself available as an extra forward. Joseph found him late in the first period coming down the off-wing, but he couldn’t get enough juice behind the shot to beat Saros. Defensively he made a few good reads, especially on the PK, but also had a couple bad giveaways. Playmakers will always have giveaways, but he tried to force a play a couple times and got burned. Offensive zone giveaways are much easier to take than defensive zone ones.

36 – C, Brayden Point: For a guy so small, weight-wise, he’s surprisingly strong on the puck. He scored the Lightning’s first goal, but it was Point who kept the puck in the zone on the power play through battles won more than anyone else, it seemed. He does all the little things well and knows where to be at any given time. Fast and skilled, he’s fun to watch.

37 – C, Cameron Darcy: He wasn’t as aggressive with the puck as I thought he’d be and looked more like a complimentary player than a driver most of the night. He got his nose dirty trying to stuff home a loose puck in the second period, though. His first 2 on 1 he looked pass the whole way, but his second he took what the D gave him, which was a lane right to Whitney. He hit Whitney’s right side then put the rebound inside the far-side post. I’d like to see him with the puck more making things happen. He’s a skill-first player.

39 – W, Brian Hart: His parents came to see his pro debut, which was a workmanlike performance for the Lightning. His size and strength are assets and he knows how to use them. He set up Yan for a Grade-A chance in the second period by forcing a turnover with a hit, then shielding the puck long enough for Yan to get open. He made good, quick decisions with the puck and played his role well. He had an assist on Darcy’s goal.

47 – W, Joel Vermin: The third-year pro was a driver for the Lightning in the first two periods, carrying the puck and creating space before dishing it. He didn’t hit the scoresheet, but had an impact on the game. In the third period Nashville was chasing him around a bit and Vermin was happy to play the role of pest.

48 – W, Cristiano DiGiacinto: I expected more out him last year, and tonight he brought was I was looking for. He skated in straight lines to the net and enabled the Joseph goal with his hard work. He took a big hit early in the third when Jonathan-Ismael Diaby tried to dump him into the Lightning bench. DiGiacinto took the hit and kept his feet for the most part, staying in play.

52 – W, Mathieu Joseph: The 2015 pick was arguably the Lightning’s hardest working forward all night, creating turnovers and ending up with a goal. He also set up DiGiacinto in the slot once and DeAngelo off a 4 on 2 rush another time. He and DiGiacinto are the same type of player and their line with Cirelli was good in both ends.

54 – W, Dennis Yan: He had an assist on Darcy’s goal, but aside from Hart’s set-up to him, wasn’t overly noticeable. He was able to show off some skill coming down the left wing in the second period, but his pass was blocked. He looked like a guy who was used to other players getting him the puck.

57 – W, Henri Ikonen: Like last year, Ikonen wasn’t as noticeable as he was in Kingston with the Fronts, but he was good on the forecheck and did a lot of the little things right along the wall and defensively.

59 – D, Jake Dotchin: The former Owen Sound Attack defenseman was a horse all night, separating guys from the puck and communicating loudly on the ice. He played like a leader and like a player who’s been through a full pro season, which he has. He coordinated coverage of a 2 on 1 in the third period, then quickly read that the puck carrier wasn’t going to pass and darted to his left in time to get his stick on the shot. He made three strong plays in a second period penalty kill, also, the final of which was sliding across the crease to block a pass and freeze the puck.

63 – C, Matt Peca: Surprisingly, Peca wasn’t on the scoresheet despite the five goals, as he’s one of the most skilled players on the team. Vermin set him up twice for in-close shots, and both times he tried blocker side and missed the net. He made a nice effort play in the third period to create a scoring chance for Vermin.

64 – D, Matt Spencer: I thought he may have been one of the Lightning’s best players in the first period. He was strong in the corners and was solid positionally. He was knocked back a couple times trying to make hits, but overall he head was up all game and on a swivel. He skates like a second round pick and showed good awareness with the puck.

67 – W, Mitch Stephens: Was quiet until early in the second period when Point was carrying the puck down the left wing and Stephens hit an extra gear speeding to the front of the net to create a passing option. He won the race, got his stick on the puck, but it was saved. He scored a few minutes later on the power play. You can see why the current Lightning management likes him – he’s a hard worker with underrated skill. The move he made on Whitney for his second goal was a goal-scorer’s goal and he did it with confidence.

71 – C, Anthony Cirelli: The Memorial Cup hero’s engine never stops. He was outmatched physically a few times, but also won his fair share of battles. His work helped lead to the Joseph goal. He had a scoring chance in the second period on an odd-man rush, but missed the net trying to go top corner.

72 – D, Dylan Blujus: Like Dotchin, Blujus looked like a season pro. His decision-making was quick and usually correct. He takes what the game gives him, and if that’s a shot, he’ll shoot. He was leading the Lightning in shots early in the third period, while also playing strong defense. Looked like a leader.

73 – W, Adam Erne: Had an assist on the first goal that was awarded almost a full period after the goal was scored. He looked to shoot and nearly had a goal in the third period cutting through the slot. The more he goes to the net, the more success he’ll have.

74 – D, Dominik Masin: He looks like a future pro with his size and skating, but struggled with quick decisions a couple times early in the game. Of course, he was playing his first game since February when he suffered a serious facial injury and had surgery. He then broke his wrist in the offseason and was held out of Peterborough’s preseason games leading up to the Estero tournament. He played a carom off the end boards wrong and the puck ended up on a Preds stick in the crease, and later he tried a cross-ice lateral pass inside Nashville’s blueline that ended up in a 2 on 1 the other way. It was a win just for him to be back on the ice.

75 – Daniel Walcott: After Blujus and Dotchin, Walcott was the Lightning’s steadiest defenseman and may have led the backline in hits in the game. He went after forwards much bigger than he is and had moderate success. His positioning was good and he moves the puck quickly. He was one of the game’s standouts for Tampa Bay.

Scratched: Boko Imama, Slater Koekkoek, Ben Thomas

My 3 Stars: 1. Mitch Stephens, 2. Brayden Point, 3. Jake Dotchin