Alex Barre-Boulet is finding a fit on Lightning’s top scoring line

TAMPA — The question of whether this will be the season that Alex Barre-Boulet finally secures a spot on the Lightning roster is just as crucial as determining where he fits best among the team’s forward lines.

The 26-year-old winger has already proven himself in the AHL, with a career-high 84-point season in Syracuse. During training camp, the Lightning initially placed him on the third line and second power-play unit, but they waived him just before the opening-night game and sent him back to the Crunch.

However, an injury to Tyler Motte during the team’s opener created another opportunity for Barre-Boulet. Suddenly, he found himself back on the NHL roster, albeit on a third line that didn’t fully utilize his offensive abilities.

In the October 17 game against Buffalo, head coach Jon Cooper decided to shuffle his lines in search of a spark in the second period. He placed Barre-Boulet on the top line alongside stars Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.

While this experiment had been tried before and failed, this time it worked.

Since being promoted to the top line, Barre-Boulet has scored in consecutive games, including an impressive redirection in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Carolina.

“He’s an exceptional player with great vision,” said Point. “The more he plays, the more confident he becomes, and he’s just playing his game right now. His game is dynamic, and he makes fantastic plays. Tuesday was another excellent performance from him.”

In the past, Barre-Boulet may not have been ready for a top-line role, but he focused on improving his skating and strength, knowing that his sixth training camp with the team was make-or-break. He also recognized that the recent departures of top-six forward Alex Killorn and power-play threat Ross Colton presented a golden opportunity for him.

Since joining Point and Kucherov for three-plus games, the line, which initially struggled this season, has attempted 11 more shots (46) than the opponent (35) during 5-on-5 play. This includes 19 scoring chances in the past two games, with 12 from high-danger areas — the most of any Lightning line in that timeframe.

In the last two games against Toronto and Carolina, Barre-Boulet has scored two goals, recorded seven shots on goal, and had six high-danger opportunities.

The irony is that Barre-Boulet only received this opportunity by coincidence. Motte’s injury allowed him to return to the roster, while Steven Stamkos’ two-game absence due to a lower-body injury opened up a top-six spot. Since Stamkos’ return, Barre-Boulet has not only remained on the top line but has also continued to improve.

“He has an elite hockey IQ,” praised Cooper. “He’s got offensive instincts and has proven that at previous levels, so as he learns to play with these guys and understands where they want the puck, he continues to improve. Plus, he has a great finishing ability. Put him in offensive situations, and he’ll excel.”

His goal against Carolina showcases this ability.

With less than three minutes remaining in the second period and the Lightning holding onto a one-goal lead, Point and Kucherov faced tight defense as they rushed into the offensive zone. Point passed from the right circle to Barre-Boulet, who was nearing the left hash. With Carolina goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov cutting off the near post with his right pad, Barre-Boulet persisted, passing the puck from behind the net to defenseman Darren Raddysh at the point. Barre-Boulet then sped to a soft spot just in front of the crease while Point drifted towards the left circle, raising his stick for a one-timer.

This move confused three Hurricanes skaters, while another focused on Kucherov at the right circle. Raddysh capitalized on the open lane to fire a shot towards the net, which Barre-Boulet coolly tipped past Kochetkov, extending the Lightning’s lead to 2-0.

“He’s getting better every game,” acknowledged Cooper. “For him to excel, he needs to play alongside talented players who can fully utilize his offensive talents. We just have to give him the opportunity.”

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