By Jake Ricker
Notable Missing Players
TBL OTT
Kucherov (Injury) White (Injury)
Point (Injury) Pinto (Injury)
Cernak (Injury) Brannstrom (Injury)
Game Summary
1st Period
Neither team could get an early edge, with both teams picking up a few chances each. The game moved very quickly with only two whistles in the first half of the period, both the Lightning and a few good opportunities, but neither could find the back of the net.
The Lightning then had their best shift of the night as Corey Perry made a quick cut in front of the net and put the puck just wide of the net. The Lightning kept the pressure up, but Forsburg kept the Bolts off the board with some great saves.
Despite the game being tied at zero and the shots even at five, the Bolt's game had a smoothness to it as they made some great passes and clean zone entries. Despite the Bolt's efforts, the Senators would open the scoring as Chabot made a great move in close and roofed the puck past Vasilevskiy for a 1-0 lead.
The Bolts would get a few more chances late, but the period would come to a close with the Lightning trailing by one after 20 minutes.
2nd period
The Senators got an early odd-man rush, but McDonagh and Vasy played it well and kept the Sense from extending their lead. The Lightning then responded with a chance of their own as Perry faked the shot, spun around his defender, and made a great pass to Foote, who put the puck on net but was decided by Forsberg.
The Lightning kept pushing and would be rewarded as Killorn buried a beautiful cross-crease pass from Colton to tie the game at one.
It was a completely different period from the first as the game featured end-to-end action with both trams trading rushes. Despite all these quality chances, both Vasilevskiy and Forsberg hunkered down and kept this game tied at one.
The Lightning would then get a two-power place chances late in the period. The Bolts had a few good looks on the first power play, but they would cash in on the second as Hedman blasted one home for a 2-1 lead. A big congratulations were in order after this goal as Stamkos would pick up his 900th career point.
3rd period
The Bolts would find themselves in some penalty trouble early in this game. Cirelli would take a holding penalty just as the 4-on-4 from the second expired, which gave the Senators a short 5-on-3. But the Lightning penalty-killing unit, which had been struggling, got back on track and killed off both penalties.
The Bolts now had some momentum after the penalty kills, and they looked to take advantage of a few good looks on net. Forsberg and the Senator's defense kept the Bolts from extending the lead, and they still trailed by one.
The Bolts continued to pressure the Senators as they looked to lock things down in the final 10 minutes. The Lightning did not let up either as they continued to keep the Senators on their heels. Temperatures began to rise with under five minutes to go in this game as Stamkos laid two big hits on one shift and got the crowd into it.
Time would run out for the Senators, and the Lightning would pick up their 5th straight win at home by a final score of 2-1.
Game Stats
TBL OTT
27 Shots on Goal. 26
50 Face-off % 50
1/5 Power play 0/2
4 PIM 10
27 Hits 33
9 Blocks 8
3 Giveaways 0
Our Three Stars
1. Hedman (1G, 1A)
2. Vasilevskiy (27SV)
3. Stamkos (1A)
Media's Three Stars
1. Hedman (1G, 1A)
2. Stamkos (1A)
3. Chabot (1G)
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