(Photo via CBC.com)
By Michael Wax
Lightning hang on to win their 3rd game in a row, moving to 33-11-6.
The following players missed last night's game due to injury:
TBL: D Zach Bogosian
EDM: D Kris Russell
Game Summary
1st Period
The Lightning returned for the first time in eight days, and were sluggish at the start of the game. In a bit of line jugging, Pat Maroon and Anthony Cirelli ended up on a two on four rush into the neutral zone. Cirelli split through the defenders around him, and fed Maroon with a lead pass in the offensive zone. Maroon's first attempt was stopped, but it bounced in off of an Oiler and into the back of the net. Maroon now has goals in four straight games.
The Lightning pushed the pace in the following moments, but didn't get any shots on goal. Edmonton was given a power play, and quickly got on the board with Connor McDavid putting home his 27th goal of the season.
With less than 20 seconds to go in the first period, Mikhail Sergachev and Alex Killorn kept the puck at the offensive blue line. Killorn found Stamkos at the bottom of the left circle, and Stamkos wheeled and fired a laser for his 24th goal of the year.
2nd Period
The second was a lot better for the Bolts, drawing even in shots and controlling scoring chances. In the middle of the frame, and with a delayed penalty coming to Connor McDavid, Brayden Point poked a second opportunity past the pad of Mike Smith for his 19th of the year, and creating a two goal lead..
The Lightning got two consecutive power plays after the 3-1 goal. While the first one generated good chances and no goal, the second one provided the absolute opposite. In what felt like the only clean zone entry for the power play, Mikhail Sergachev slapped a shot that Corey Perry tipped in for the 400th goal of his career, the 103rd player in NHL history to hit the milestone.
Edmonton got one back with less than three minutes to go in the period, Zach Hyman beating Vasilevskiy on a backhand following a Leon Draisaitl pass.
3rd Period
Edmonton made it 4-3 in the middle of the frame, McDavid wired a shot through McDonagh and past Vasilevskiy for his second goal of the game.
The Lightning played some solid defensive hockey to close out the final 10 minutes, not allowing the Oilers many Grade-A chances. Nikita Kucherov sealed the game with a steal and score with three seconds to go.
The Lightning will face the Nashville Predators in the Stadium Series on Saturday.
Our Three Stars
1. Perry (TBL): 400TH GOAL
2. Sergachev (TBL): 2 Assists
3. McDavid: 2 Goals, 1 Assist
Media's Three Stars
1. Perry (TBL): 400TH GOAL
2. McDavid: 2 Goals, 1 Assist
3. Sergachev (TBL): 2 Assists
Want to start your journalism career by writing about the Tampa Bay Lightning? Send us a message via our contact form located in the upper right hand corner under the more tab or send us a message via Twitter to get started.
Comments