Down by a goal and with only a single shot on goal through one period in Carolina on Friday night, nobody could have expected the Tampa Bay Lightning record book to get workout over the next 40 minutes.

Indeed, the Bolts would score eight goals to equal the franchise mark in a road game. Nikita Kucherov had a six-point (2-4) night to tie Doug Crossman, who set the record in the franchise’s 16^th game back in 1992. Tampa Bay’s eight goals on 14 shots on goal resulted in an astounding 57.1 shooting percentage, the highest ever recorded since the NHL began keeping the stat in 1959-60.

Welcome back Andrei Vasilevskiy.

“Guys played unbelievably in front of a me,” said the goaltender, playing his first game of the season in returning from a back injury sustained during training camp. “Lots of blocked shots and, obviously, the goal support. It’s remarkable and it could not be more perfect for your first game.”

It is not as though the Lightning were playing poorly without their world-class goaltender. There were bumps and bruises during the first 20 games, though goalie Jonas Johansson should not be faulted. Rather, careless play leading to prime scoring opportunities against often was the culprit.

The Lightning have also had a habit of falling behind, something that has occurred in six of seven games through Saturday night’s match in Raleigh. They have been able to erase early deficits, though they do want have to go down that road often.

“We have some confidence from coming back and winning some games,” said captain Steven Stamkos. “(Showing the ability to come back) helps, but it certainly is not a recipe. We want to cut that back a little bit.”

Regardless of how they have gone about it, the Lightning will head into Monday night’s game at Colorado on a five-game point streak. The current run (4-0-1) followed a rough patch in which Tampa Bay lost three straight, including back-to-back shutouts at St. Louis and Chicago that dropped the team’s mark to 6-6-4.

An inconsistent first several weeks of the season should not have come as a surprise given a handful of new faces were being blended into the lineup. As the schedule has marched along, players, most of them veterans, have a better feel for their roles and a better feel about those next to them on the ice.

“Getting more comfortable with our game, getting more comfortable with our teammates,” said coach Jon Cooper, following an overtime loss against visiting Winnipeg on Wednesday evening. “Guys are slotting into roles. While there was a little uncertainty in the first 10 to 12 games, now there is not much uncertainty. The guys know what they have to do and we are playing a much more consistent 60-minute game.”

What Cooper appreciates most about the 8-2 win in Carolina was how few chances the home team had. The Hurricanes had all 12 shots on goal while even strength. That certainly helped Vasilevskiy in his return before the floodgates were lifted in a five-goal third period.

While the goals and gaudy stats – Brayden Point had his second hat trick of the season – are nice, in the larger picture a more responsible brand of hockey is the path the Lightning need to traverse regardless of who is in goal.

“It's getting there,” said Stamkos. “I think we are a better team now than we were in the beginning of the season. That’s what you want to do, progress as a team as you go through (the season.)”

No question, though, it helps to have Vasilevskiy between the pipes. After all, he is a Vezina winner (2018-19) and four-time finalist while backstopping a core that won consecutive Stanley Cups and went to three straight Cup finals.

“He’s one of the best players on our team, if not the best,” said Cooper. “It’s a momentum swing when you get to have your full arsenal. When you have the guys you are used to having, it definitely helps.”