Hugo Alnefelt was slated to play in Tampa Bay's opening game of the 2021 Prospect Showcase against Nashville Saturday but was feeling under the weather and couldn't go head coach Benoit Groulx said.
Between the pipes stepped Amir Miftakhov, the Lightning's 2020 Sixth Round draft pick, who went the distance for the Bolts and made several top-notch saves in a 5-2 victory over the Predators in front of a crowd of 2,164 spectators at AMALIE Arena.
"I thought he was great," assistant coach Eric Veilleux said of Miftakhov's 35-save performance. "He showed why he was here. He had a great game. He was awesome, to be honest."
The Lightning never trailed in their Showcase opener.
Bolts open Prospect Showcase with 5-2 victory over Nashville
Simon Ryfors paced the offense with three points, and Amir Miftakhov made 35 saves
Antoine Morand put Tampa Bay in the lead in the first period after slamming home a cross-crease feed from Jack Finley. Gage Goncalves started the play, carrying the puck into the offensive zone and dishing off to his left for Finley, who spotted Morand skating all along to the back post and was able to deliver him a clean pass.
"My first initial thought was to shoot the puck because that's what (the coaches) have been wanting us to do, but I heard Morand calling for it backdoor," said Finley, who finished the victory with two assists. "I tried to slide him one back door and got it to him."
Miftakhov made a pair of outstanding saves on a Nashville power play to keep the Lightning in the lead. He stretched out wide with his left leg, anchoring it to the post to deny a rebound opportunity. Later in the same sequence, he made a swiping theft with the glove while seated on his butt to end a Predators' scoring chance.
Miftakhov couldn't keep a wide-open Philip Tomasino from leveling the score 1-1 moments later at 5-on-5 play, however. An initial shot by Egor Afanasyev from the left circle was blocked but came right back to Afanasyev, who passed through the slot to Tomasino on the back post.
The Bolts went back into the lead for good right before the first intermission, Jaydon Dureau whacking away at a loose puck on the edge of the crease for the rebound goal and a 2-1 Lightning advantage, Morand and Finley providing the assists.
"It's always unexpected what's going to happen when you come in," Dureau said. "None of us have played together before. Two different linemates tonight and all new D-pairings, but I think for the first game together we gelled really well together. I thought our camaraderie, chemistry was a lot better than a lot anticipated, and I think it showed on the scoreboard today."
Simon Ryfors scored the first of his two goals late in the second period to push Tampa Bay's lead to 3-1. Ryfors is playing in North America for the first time. The Lightning signed him from Sweden to a one-year, two-way contract in May.
"You want to make a good first impression," Ryfors said. "I just wanted to show why they signed me. I always want to play my best. I felt pretty prepared. It's been a good week. Some adjustment in the game and the system and stuff and the smaller rink but felt good."
Nashville got a goal back late in the second, Cole Smith wiring a shot on a 2-on-1 rush from the right dot past Miftakhov with 2:22 remaining in the period.
The Bolts went back in front by two goals on their first power play of the game, Ryfors burying a one-timer down on one knee from the slot to make it 4-2 Lightning midway through the third.
Maxim Cajkovic popped in a shot off a Nashville skater in front of the net with 6:39 to go for the 5-2 final.
"That was a lot of fun," Ryfors said. "First game in this jersey and this rink. I was excited."
Ryfors led all scores with three points on two goals and an assist. Morand (goal, assist), Cajkovic (goal, assist), Dureau (goal, assist), Gabriel Fortier (2 assists) and Finley (2 assists) all had multi-point games for Tampa Bay. The Bolts went 1-for-2 on the power play - the power play they failed to score on came in the final minute with the outcome well in hand - and were a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
The Lightning will play again Sunday at AdventHealth Center Ice, taking on the Carolina Hurricanes at 1 p.m. In the early game, Florida will take on Nashville. The Panthers fell 3-1 to the Hurricanes in the opening game of the Showcase.
"I think we had a great start," Veilleux said. "We were on them. Forechecked well. Guys competed. (Cameron) MacDonald's line gave us some energy with some big hits. We did have a little letdown maybe halfway through the first, but, overall, we had a decent game. Pretty good game. We were able to see some good things from certain players. Not many practices, maybe a little bit of nervousness, but, overall, we were pretty pleased with what we've seen."
