(Photo via Tampabay.com)
By Michael Wax
After losing to the Avalanche on Thursday, the Lightning defeated the Arizona Coyotes 4-3, moving to 31-11-6.
The following players missed last night's game due to injury:
TBL: D Erik Cernak, D Zach Bogosian
ARI: F Dmitrij Jaskin, F Jay Beagle, F Johan Larsson, F Barrett Hayton, D Conor Timmins, G Carter Hutton
Game Summary
1st Period
Brian Elliott got the start for the Bolts, his first in three weeks. The Lightning took Thursday's first period to heart, as they completed reverted their game back to the basics and didn't allow a ton of chances. They did, however, garner some chances of their own.
After a Coyotes turnover in the Lightning zone, Brayden Point went for a skate and went virtually uncontested into the offensive zone. Point ripped a wrist shot that found its way past Karel Vejmelka to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
The Lightning doubled their lead with just under three minutes to play, as the School Bus line went to work. Pat Maroon gained the zone, Ryan McDonagh carried it deep before dropping it back to Maroon, who fired a shot that Corey Perry ended up knocking in. For Perry, that was goal number 399, one away from the allusive 400.
The Lightning would give up a late-period tally, as Alex Galchenyuk would be the beneficiary of a poor Brian Elliott rebound and cash in to cut the lead in half.
Also, shoutout to Jan Rutta for the potential defensive play of the year.
2nd Period
No goals, 11 total shots between the teams in the middle frame. Sometimes, boring hockey is the best hockey, and the Lightning carried their lead into the 3rd period.
3rd Period
This period, however, saw the team trading haymakers left and right. First, the captain got on the board with a rush chance.
After Clayton Keller cut the lead back to one, Stamkos scored yet again, this time on the breakaway.
The Lightning once again saw their lead go back down to one in the final 90 seconds, but amazing pressure by the Stamkos-Cirelli-Killorn line sealed the deal.
Game Stats
TBL ARI
32 Shots on Goal 19
52.9 Face-off % 47.1
0/3 Power play 0/1
2 PIM 6
16 Hits 23
15 Blocks 13
4 Giveaways 11
Our Three Stars
1. Stamkos (TBL): 2 Goals
2. Keller (ARI): 1 Goal, 1 Assist
3. Perry (TBL): 1 Goal
Media's Three Stars
1. Stamkos (TBL): 2 Goals
2. Keller (ARI): 1 Goal, 1 Assist
3. Perry (TBL): 1 Goal
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