Victory! Photo by Alexis Boucher

So… you guys saw that game too, right? We’re not just imagining the 8-3 thumping the Lightning delivered to the Winnipeg Jets?  The strength of Tampa’s start this season has been pretty unbelievable. After tonight’s victory they are 6-1-0 and have scored five or more goals in four straight games. If this is a dream, please don’t wake us.

Tampa’s power play has been extremely strong and definitely took advantage of Winnipeg’s penalties. Cory Conacher got things under way with the first goal. Chris Thorburn was given a five minute penalty for checking defenseman Sami Salo from behind. Salo left the bench for a bit to get patched up but did return. The Jets were called for two minor penalties while the 5 minutes ticked off the clock, giving Steven Stamkos and Vinny Lecavalier the chance to score their own goals with a 5-3 man advantage.

The boys in blue just kept coming in the second. Cory Conacher scored his second on the night just 26 seconds in. The rookie now has 5 goals and 12 points on the season. He has also recorded at least a point in in 6 of the 7 games played. Nate Thompson got his first on the year and Teddy Purcell got a goal to round out the scoring in the second. Ryan Malone and Benoit Pouliot got the final Tampa goals in the third.

It’s hard to find fault with such a decisive victory, but the Lightning weren’t perfect by any means. As the second period went on, they took their foot off the gas a bit. It didn’t seem like they were playing with the same relentlessness as they had through the first half of the game. That’s when Winnipeg started creeping in and scoring their goals. It’s extremely cliche, but teams have to play a fill 60 minutes. Close it out and finish it.

A win is a win. Tomorrow’s game against the Rangers starts at 7. Time for us all to get some sleep and do it all over again. Hopefully.