Darren Raddysh is putting together the kind of season that turns heads, and he added another chapter to his breakout campaign with a three-point night-including the game-winner-as the Tampa Bay Lightning rolled past the Winnipeg Jets, 4-1, to close out November in dominant fashion. That win marked Tampa Bay’s 11th of the month, their best single-month total since a scorching 12-1-2 run back in February 2019.
This one had tempo from the jump. Winnipeg came ready to skate and brought the kind of speed that can cause problems, especially early.
Tampa Bay didn’t get much going on the forecheck in the first period, and the Jets took advantage, generating a handful of rush chances. But when you’ve got Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes, you’ve always got a shot to ride things out until the offense wakes up-and that’s exactly what happened.
Vasilevskiy was rock solid again, turning aside 22 of 23 shots, including a few high-speed threats off the rush. His calm presence gave the Lightning time to settle in, and with just over five minutes left in the first period, Dominic James opened the scoring. That goal came at a crucial moment, as Nikita Kucherov had just left the game after a collision with Logan Stanley left him shaken up and needing help to the bench.
Fortunately for the Bolts, Kucherov was back on the ice to start the second period-and Tampa wasted no time capitalizing on the momentum. Raddysh, who’s been finding the back of the net with increasing regularity, stepped into a shot from the blue line that beat Connor Hellebuyck clean over the right pad. That was Raddysh’s 15th of the season, and if he keeps this up, 20 goals might just be a pit stop on the way to even bigger numbers.
Winnipeg didn’t fold, though. They pushed back and got on the board midway through the second when Kyle Connor redirected a Dylan Samberg shot past a screened Vasilevskiy. The Jets nearly tied it moments later when Tanner Pearson broke in on a two-on-one, but a combination of Vasilevskiy’s positioning and a timely defensive effort from Nick Paul kept the puck out.
That sequence proved pivotal, because just a few shifts later, Yanni Gourde restored Tampa Bay’s two-goal cushion. On a delayed penalty, Gourde got off an awkward shot from the slot that somehow found its way past Hellebuyck, who was visibly frustrated after the goal. Kucherov picked up the assist, extending his point streak to seven games.
From there, the Lightning did what they’ve done so well over the past 20 games-they shut it down. Winnipeg had a power play early in the third, but Tampa’s penalty kill was airtight, and the Jets managed just three high-danger chances in the final frame.
The Bolts were in full control, and Kucherov put the finishing touch on the night with an empty-netter-his 27th goal of the season and 31st point in January. That gives him three 30-point months in his career, tying him with Connor McDavid for the most among active players.
That’s elite company, and Kucherov’s consistency continues to be a driving force behind Tampa’s success.
Also worth noting-Ryan McDonagh made his return to the lineup and gave the Lightning exactly what they’ve come to expect from the veteran blueliner. He logged over 20 minutes of ice time, fired three shots on goal, blocked three more, and anchored the penalty kill with a team-high 2:13 of short-handed time.
Paired with Erik Cernak, McDonagh spent much of the night matched up against the Cole Perfetti line. While the Lightning were outchanced 5-3 during their shifts, they didn’t surrender a goal-a testament to the kind of steady, no-frills defense McDonagh brings.
The Lightning now get a few days to regroup before hosting the Boston Bruins on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. With the way this team is clicking-offensively, defensively, and in net-they’re looking more and more like a group that’s finding its stride as the season rolls on.