Lightning Defense Shines as They Face Flames

The Tampa Bay Lightning's defense has emerged as a cornerstone of their success as they prepare to face the Calgary Flames on November 24, 2025. After a rocky start to the season, where they only managed one win in their first seven games, the Lightning have bounced back, winning 12 of their last 15 games, now sitting atop the Atlantic Division.

This turnaround is attributed to a renewed focus on defensive play, as explained by head coach Jon Cooper, who emphasized the importance of defending without the puck and minimizing odd-man rushes. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, the former Vezina Trophy winner, has been pivotal in this resurgence, recently earning his 41st career shutout in a 3-0 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he made 20 saves.

The Lightning's recent scoring has also been notable, with Brandon Hagel netting two goals in that game, bringing his season total to eleven, just behind Jake Guentzel's twelve. Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli are also contributing significantly with ten and nine goals, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames come into Tampa after a win against the Vancouver Canucks, marking their third consecutive victory. Despite a difficult start to the season that saw them go 2-8-2, the Flames have shown resilience under third-year coach Ryan Huska.

Connor Zary, a 2020 first-round draft pick, recently broke a 20-game goalless drought, scoring in the victory against Vancouver. The Flames are looking to build on this momentum as they continue their five-game road trip, which includes matchups against the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Nashville Predators.

As of now, Nazem Kadri leads the Flames in points with 18, while forwards Matt Coronato and Blake Coleman share the team lead in goals with eight each. The upcoming clash between the Lightning and Flames will showcase two teams with contrasting trajectories in the early season, with Tampa Bay riding high on defensive excellence and Calgary seeking to maintain their winning ways on the road.

This matchup is set to be a critical test for both teams as they look to solidify their standings within their respective divisions.