By Michael Wax
Lightning split their back-to-back, move to 1-2-0.
The Lightning had two lineup changes heading into the game, with forward Gabriel Fortier replacing forward Cole Koepke on the 4th line, and Brian Elliott replacing Andrei Vasilevskiy in the starters' crease for his first start of the season
1st Period
Playing with tired legs on the second half of a back-to-back, the Lightning managed to get the game's first goal. After a faceoff win on the power play for the Bolts, the big three passed it along the perimeter before Stamkos unleashed his patented one-timer to open the scoring.
For Stamkos, he put up his fourth goal in three games. Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov had the assists.
The Penguins managed to tie the game before the period ended. Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby managed to bring the puck up the ice on a 2-on-1 after a failed keep in from Victor Hedman. Erik Cernak slide down to block the pass, but was too late as Guentzel fed Crosby, who out-waited Elliott and put home a backhander to tie the game.
2nd Period
The Lightning started to show tired legs in the middle frame, and Brian Elliott held his ground and then some. Despite the Penguins taking a 2-1 lead, Elliott's massive saves held the Lightning in a game where they were getting dominated in every aspect.
The one Penguins goal came on the power play, as the Lightning couldn't clear the bouncing puck and it just bounced around to a wide-open Danton Heinen.
3rd Period
Despite Elliott's brilliant performance, the floodgates opened up in the third. Guentzel, Jeff Carter, Brian Rust, and Rickard Rakell all managed to score for the Penguins.
Brayden Point ended up getting his first goal of the year right after the Rust goal to make it 5-2. A pretty passing sequence by the big three forwards led to a one-timer from Point off the rush.
Three Stars
1. Guentzel (PIT): 1 Goal, 1 Assist
2. Crosby (PIT): 1 Goal, 2 Assists
3. Carter (PIT): 1 Goal, 1 Assist
The Lightning's next game will be against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday October 18th, at 7 PM ET.
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