1. RETURN OF THE MAC
Staying sharp as a backup goaltender can be a difficult proposition.
Take Curtis McElhinney for example. The Bolts backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy was starting his first game in 16 days when he took up his spot between the pipes in the second half of a back-to-back. The first period in San Jose didn't give McElhinney much action either. The Lightning outshot the Sharks 13-2, the two shots the fewest the Bolts have allowed to an opponent in a period this season.
But when San Jose made its push in the second period with sustained offensive zone time and a couple threatening opportunities, McElhinney didn't miss a beat, playing like an everyday starter to hold the Sharks at bay.
"Great first period, not a lot of shots on their end so was a little nervous going into that second period, but I was able to see some pucks and make a save on Kane there," McElhinney said about his sixth victory of the season. "It was a nice game, one of those ones you kind of work into as the game goes on. It was nice to be on the right side of it."
Evander Kane's breakaway proved to be McElhinney's strongest save of the second period. Kane stole the puck from Nikita Kucherov at the blue line and outraced Kucherov the other way to set up the scoring chance, but McElhinney was able to block his shot away and keep the Lightning in the lead.
In the third period, McElhinney came up with his best effort of the night. Timo Meier walked through the Lightning defense to get in alone down low. Meier tried to come back to his backhand and tuck a shot in at the near post, but McElhinney kept his outstretched left leg glued to the ice to deny.
"It's just one of those plays where you're trying to take away time and space," McElhinney said. "You've got to anticipate the backside's going to be taken away by the pressure coming back, so just make sure it doesn't go short side on you."
McElhinney's shutout was his first since registering 24-of-24 saves at Dallas Feb. 23, 2019 while with the Carolina Hurricanes. After suffering two-straight losses coming into San Jose, McElhinney earned his first win since Jan. 4 at Ottawa.
"I'm so happy for the guy," Yanni Gourde said. "He's been so good. He's worked so hard. Every practice, he's out there working on things. Honestly, he's a great guy in the room, so I was really happy for him to get his first shutout with us. I think he played tremendous tonight and like he did all season. Every time he's in net, he's playing well."