Alex Barre-Boulet is finding a fit on Lightning’s top scoring line
TAMPA — As important as is the question about whether this is the season Alex Barre-Boulet finally sticks on the Lightning roster is the matter of where he best fits on the forward lines.
The 26-year-old wing has proven all he can in the AHL, coming off a career-high 84-point season in Syracuse. In training camp, the Lightning had him on the third line and second power play. But they put him on waivers just before their opening-night game; he wasn’t claimed and was assigned to the Crunch.
An injury to forward Tyler Motte in the opener quickly presented Barre-Boulet with another opportunity with the Lightning. Back on the roster, he was put on a third line that didn’t seem to take full advantage of his offensive skill.
With coach Jon Cooper looking for a spark in the second period of an Oct. 17 game in Buffalo, he shuffled his lines, putting Barre-Boulet on the top line alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
It’s an experiment Cooper had tried before but didn’t stick. This time it did.
Since being elevated to the top line, Barre-Boulet has scored in back-to-back games, including a heady redirection in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Hurricanes.
“He’s a great player, and he sees the ice really well,” Point said. “And I think the more reps he gets, just the more confident he becomes, and he’s just playing his game right now. And his game is dynamic, and he makes great plays. I think (Tuesday) was another really good one for him.”
Barre-Boulet might not have been ready for a top-line role in the past, but he focused on improving his skating and getting stronger knowing that his sixth training camp with the team this year could be make or break. He also knew that with the losses of top-six forward Alex Killorn (free agency) and power-play threat Ross Colton (trade), this might be his best opportunity.
Since Barre-Boulet joined Point and Kucherov for the past three-plus games, the top line — which sputtered to open the season — has 11 more shot attempts (46) than allowed (35) in 5-on-5 play. That includes 19 scoring chances over the past two games, 12 from high-danger areas, most of any Lightning line over that stretch.
Over the past two games, against Toronto and Carolina, Barre-Boulet has two goals, seven shots on goal and six high-danger scoring chances.
Not only did Motte’s injury open the door to Barre-Boulet’s return to the roster, Steven Stamkos’ two-game absence with a lower-body injury opened a top-six spot. Since Stamkos’ return, Barre-Boulet not only has remained on the top line, he has continued to get better.
“He’s got a pretty elite hockey IQ,” Cooper said. “He has ability. He’s done that at levels he’s played at prior to the NHL, (shown) that he’s got offensive instincts, and so you learn to play with these guys and where they want the puck and where they know you should put it, and he’s slowly learning that.
“As you can see, he can finish. So you get him into these offensive situations and he can excel.”
His goal against Carolina was a good example.
With less than three minutes left in the second period and the Lightning clinging to a one-goal lead, the Hurricanes’ defense clamped down on Point and Kucherov as they entered the offensive zone on a rush. Point passed from the right circle to Barre-Boulet as he approached the left hash. Barre-Boulet ran out of runway as Carolina goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov closed off the near post with his right pad.
But Barre-Boulet stuck with the play, snapping a pass from behind the net to defenseman Darren Raddysh at the point. Carolina reset, and as Barre-Boulet sped to a soft spot just in front of the crease, Point drifted to the left circle and lifted his stick for a one-timer.
That spun three Hurricanes skaters around, and another went to Kucherov positioned at the right circle. Raddysh had an open lane to rifle a shot toward the net that Barre-Boulet calmly tipped past Kochetkov to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead.
“I think every game he’s getting better,” Cooper said. “I think for him to excel, he’s got to play with some pretty good players because he’s got some gifted offensive talents, and so you’ve just got to put him in a situation to succeed.
“You’re not asking him to go in and be on a checking line and kill penalties for you and block shots. You ask him to do what he’s doing here now, and he’s making the best of his opportunity.”
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieintheYard.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
