"Process Over Outcome:" Bolts Channel 'Mr. 1,000' During Wild Ride to Top of East

Riley Gillespie-Wilson | Thunderstruck Sports

Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports

It's a well-known fact in today's National Hockey League the coveted top slot in either conference doesn't come easily. It doesn't come without effort, tenacity and resolve in the face of adversity. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, the '25-26 season has handed them a slew of injuries and constant lineup shuffling. If there's one thing their head coach Jon Cooper always preaches, though, it's "process over outcome."

Where we Sit

The Bolts have just passed the midway mark of the season, skating in Game 42 against the "best of the west," and in turn league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Hosting the Avs would be a massive challenge for a Lightning group still missing their captain, Victor Hedman, as well as Emil Lilleberg and vet Ryan McDonagh on the back end.

Injuries haven't been slowing the Lightning's winning ways, though. Entering action Tampa Bay was flying high, and riding a seven-game win-streak.

After a highly entertaining tilt, it was the Bolts who handed Colorado only their fourth regulation loss of the season.

The win encapsulated the effort-level the Lightning have been showing all season, as they surrendered a 1-0 lead but rallied back to take the game 4-2, enough to keep them on top of the East standings with 55 points.

Next Man Up

For much of the season, new faces have been filtered into the Bolts' lineup consistently due to injury. On the night of a ceremony for Jon Cooper's 1,000th game coached, his team did him proud once more despite the aforementioned injury list on the blueline.

Notably, Darren Raddysh has been an excellent remedy to the lack of health on 'D.'

Collecting his first career hat-trick in San Jose, Raddysh became just the third D-man in Lightning history to record the feat, and the first since Dan Boyle in 2006.

It hasn't just been the offensive ability of Raddysh that has impressed. It's also been his stellar work defensively, making his presence known with keen positioning and puck movement every time he hits the ice. Raddysh has a career-high 12 goals already, and is a +13.

'Kuch' Finds New Gear

One thing Cooper can typically rely on is Nikita Kucherov to pile up the points. He's doing so in fine form as of late, riding an eight-game point streak and earning NHL Player of the Week honors along the way.

A hot Kucherov, who has an absurd 19 points throughout the streak, is one factor driving the Lightning offensively. Of course, no one player, or line for that matter, as Brayden Point begins to heat up, can carry an NHL team to success.

So, how have the Lightning really channeled Cooper's energy to "munch" points like they know how?

Let's dive in.

What Year is it?

A Yanni Gourde line driving oppositions insane and spending virtually no time defending? Tampa Bay fans know the name of that tune, from Gourde's earlier stint in Tampa a handful of years back.

No matter who Gourde is playing with, his line makes an impact. They check, they cycle and they wear you down with effort.

In the Colorado game, it was Gourde and first-year Bolt Pontus Holmberg (who has fit in like a glove) along with Zemgus Girgensons banging away in the O-Zone.

'Z' was rewarded with an effort goal driving the net that served to be crucial for Tampa. Again, though, it goes beyond the goals scored when assessing another line that has played Jon Cooper hockey time in and time out.

"No excuses. Play like a champion," the Bolts' pre-game shirts read as Cooper was celebrated for his milestone. It's safe to say you'll always get that effort from Gourde, and it's contagious.

Youth Finding Footing

When inserted into the Lightning lineup, one thing is non-negotiable, and that's effort.

While players like Dominic James, Declan Carlile and Charle-Edouard D'Astous haven't had perfect seasons by any means, they're not noticeable in a negative way, and have flashes of prowess more often than may have been expected.

D'Astous on the back-end is just a -2 and has 14 points in his first 35 games of NHL action.

James, also a -2, feels snake-bitten at times but has had plenty of mojo to his game.

Point being, these youngsters are serving the Bolts well, and all have made strides since their rookie lap. That's not to mention a Lightning who just skated in game 100 in his career, who is starting to pile up the points.

Goncalves Taking Full Advantage of Opportunity

With the shuffling from Cooper comes new opportunities for younger Bolt players. Gage Goncalves, who much like James found himself struggling to score early in the season, has been picking up steam.

It helps to be on the left-wing of Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, but Goncalves is looking the part. He has a goal and four helpers in his last five games on the top line.

The Message

No coach in the NHL lasts 1,000 games with the same team without a firm grasp on their dressing room. A clear, concise voice and a drive to get the most out of his players.

Cooper certainly has the latter, with the 26-win Bolts looking primed for another run at Lord Stanley's grail come April, and hopefully June for this Tampa team.

It's outrageous this article is wrapping up without mention of Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel or even Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was brilliant again in the Colorado game.

Therein lies the point: Cooper is getting everything out of every player in the room. That's a scary proposition for opposing teams.

As Jon and his family stood on the ice celebrating Cooper's big day, it was a time to reflect, yet also no doubt a time to wonder... Where to from here? This Lightning team is well-coached, well-oiled, and primed to take on any adversity that comes their way.