The Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Conor Sheary line dominated zone time, creating 15 shot attempts, and allowing just one shot on goal.
The long awaited preseason started on Tuesday night where the Lightning took on the Carolina Hurricanes.
It’s hard to take a lot from these games as the roster is a mix of Lightning veterans and prospects hoping to make the team. For the veterans, this is a chance to get back up to speed. For prospects, the pressure is on to make a lasting impression on the staff in a short amount of time.
Last week, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Alex Barre-Boulet would get an opportunity to prove he can make a roster spot. Barre-Boulet is in his sixth Lightning training camp but has been showing more consistency as time has gone on.
“He has proven all he can prove in the American League and that’s what you want to do. There are spots on this team open, you got to play to your strengths. The kid can put the puck in the net so put the puck in the net.'
He did in fact shoot the puck, showing confidence on the ice and scoring the Lightning’s first goal of the night via the power play.
“I was up and down a little bit the past two or three years. I want to prove that I can play here all year,” said Barre-Boulet.
“I liked the way the guys responded and every time we kind of got knocked down they came right back. So good sign for a lot of those guys in that room,” Cooper told reporters in Carolina.
“There’s so much more time in the preseason. It’s great for these guys to get their feet wet. You want to come away with a ‘W,’ there’s no doubt about that, but you keep up that effort that a lot of guys gave tonight and we’ll be ok.”
The Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Conor Sheary line dominated zone time, creating 15 shot attempts, and allowing just one shot on goal. Sheary, who is a new addition to the Lightning roster, garnered some attention Tuesday night as he scored the Lightning’s only even-strength goal in front on a deflection.
“It’s going to say 5-2 against us, but I didn’t think we deserved that result. Just some unfortunate plays. A tough change and one ends up in the back of our net. None of the guys were meaning for that to happen,” said Cooper.
We’ve seen Sheary spend time on the second line in Training Camp, a spot that needs to be filled after the departure of Alex Killorn this summer.
“I think it took us a while to create that chemistry and I think that’s normal, but as the game went along we started to find each other’s instincts and started to see where each other was going to be,” Sheary said.
“I think they like to hound pucks in the offensive zone and play off the rush and those are two things I think I do pretty well.”
The Lightning will head to Nashville Wednesday for an 8 p.m. ET matchup against the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.