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Palat, Johnson, Kucherov healthy again for Lightning

 
Tyloer Johnson, left, and Ondrej Palat celebrate a goal in their Dec. 1 game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. [Getty Images]
Tyloer Johnson, left, and Ondrej Palat celebrate a goal in their Dec. 1 game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. [Getty Images]
Published Dec. 27, 2014

TAMPA — The Lightning suggested several theories to try to explain its offensive skid before Christmas. Bad breaks. A lack of dirty goals. Opponents' adjustments. A statistical blip in a long season.

But as it returns from the NHL's three-day holiday break tonight against the Hurricanes, the Lightning's last game provided another one: The steady line of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov hadn't been 100 percent healthy.

"That line hasn't really been together for a couple weeks now," coach Jon Cooper said. "They're finally back healthy and showed what they can do."

What they did Tuesday night was account for all four goals, carrying the Lightning to its first win over the Penguins since November 2011. Palat had a career-high three assists. Kucherov scored on a breakaway on a line change, and Johnson headlined the performance with his second career hat trick.

"That's special," Kucherov said.

It was also something that had been lacking recently. Palat missed four games this month with a lower-body injury. Johnson missed a game with the flu and wasn't 100 percent in his return in a game the next night.

After averaging 3.5 goals a game to begin the season, the Lightning had 12 during that six-game stretch.

Cooper tinkered with his lines to jump-start the offense. Rookie Jonathan Drouin played more with Steven Stamkos, and wing Ryan Callahan moved to the third line. The lone constant was Johnson, Palat and Kucherov, a group that established its chemistry and success early. All three rank among the top five in the league in plus-minus.

Johnson and Palat have been on the same line for years, forging a bond they carry off the ice. Kucherov's skill meshed quickly, and by this point it almost seems as if the three can read each others' minds. "I wish we could do that," Johnson said.

Instead, they rely on talent, hockey smarts and — Tuesday night, at least — the kind of greasy plays Cooper re-emphasized during a skid in which the Lightning lost six of eight games entering Tuesday.

Johnson's first goal Tuesday came with Palat clogging the front of the net. His second came in a strong shot and with Kucherov screening goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

"Without the net screen, those probably don't go in," Johnson said.

Johnson was quick to point out that the line has plenty of room for improvement and that he was still trying to regain the weight he lost while he was ill.

But Tuesday's performance was a much-needed return to what has made the Lightning's steady line successful.

"We came back to what we're supposed to: play fast and passing the puck around and score goals," Palat said. "When you're playing with 'Kuch' and Johnny, it's easy, no?"

ICE CHIPS: Goalie Ben Bishop (lower-body injury) was expected to return tonight and play for the first time in a week and a half. Defenseman Jason Garrison could return from his unspecified injury.

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampbay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes on Twitter.