By Jake Ricker
Notable Missing Players
TBL LAK
Kucherov (Injury) Walker (Injury)
Point (Injury) Edler (Injury)
Cernak (Injury) Lizotte (Injury)
Game Summary
1st Period
The kings got off to a strong start in this game, and Vasy had to make some big saves to keep the Lightning from falling behind.
The Bolts would then have to head to the penalty kill, which has struggled over the last few games. Unfortunately, that would continue as the Kings capitalized on the man advantage and took a 1-0 lead halfway through the first.
The Bolts then began to bounce back as they had their best shift of the period. They would then be rewarded during a delayed penalty when Hedman fired a blast from the point to tie the game at one.
Jonathan Quick would have to make one more miraculous save before the end of the period to keep this a 1-1 game. Despite not having the best period, the Bolts got the momentum back at the end of the first and would look to carry that into the second.
2nd Period
The Kings came out strong once again as just a few minutes into the game; they took back the lead after a deflection in front of the net gave the Kings a 2-1 lead.
The Lightning quickly pushed back with some pressure of their own and began to even things out. Stamkos had a breakaway opportunity, but Quick made a big stop to keep the kings out in front.
The Bolts continued to push for the tying goal, and Stamkos really wanted to get his 900th career point. But Quick and the Kings held the Lightning off. The Bolts then finally tied the game up off a great deflection by Raddysh off another hard shot from Hedman.
The Lightning had a few more good chances before the end of the period, but we would head into the third tied at two.
3rd Period
The Lightning would start off the period with a man advantage; while it did not result in a goal, the Bolts had the momentum. Stamkos then had another crack at his 900th point on another breakaway, but Quick once again denied him.
The Lightning continued to control the momentum in this game, but with the score still tied, it was anyone's game.
With time quickly winding down, both teams would make their best efforts as they looked for a potential game-winning goal. Both Vasilevskiy and Quick through were locked in, and we're not letting anything through.
With both teams playing such a close game, we would have to settle this one in overtime.
Overtime
Writing recaps for overtime is usually difficult as it can be so hard to recapture all the action. Both teams had great chances on both ends. The Kings would eventually have a breakaway chance, but Vasilevskiy made an unbelievable save stretching his pad. The crowd erupted with Vasy chants, but the game wasn't over yet. The Bolts got another odd-man rush opportunity, and it was Joseph who made sure to bury this one and give the Lightning a 3-2 overtime victory.
Game Stats
TBL LAK
30 Shots on Goal. 30
48 Face-off % 51
0/3 Power play 1/2
4 PIM 6
29 Hits 26
9 Blocks 8
2 Giveaways 2
7 Takeaways 12
Our Three Stars
1. Hedman (TBL)
2. Vasilevskiy (TBL)
3. Kopitar (LAK)
Media's Three Stars
1. Joseph (TBL)
2. Hedman (TBL)
3. Quick (LAK)
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