The Tampa Bay Lightning have seemingly come back from the dead more times than The Undertaker. The Bolts’ playoff chances looked dead in the water after a loss in Boston, Tuesday, but Tampa Bay came out firing Thursday night. The Lightning had to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs to stay alive in the playoff race. Tampa Bay made a resounding statement to not count them out yet. Brayden Point led the way with 2 goals in the 4-1 victory.
The Lightning got the 1st power play opportunity of the night when Zach Hyman was sent to the box for tripping, but the Bolts couldn’t cash in to take an early lead. The Lightning had to endure back to back penalty kills when Andrej Sustr and Anton Stralman picked up penalties within minutes of each other. Vasy and the boys held strong though and we went to the 2nd period still tied at 0.
The Lightning had to kill of another penalty very early in the 2nd period when Braydon Coburn was called for interference, but the PK was up to the task again. The scoring would open up in the 8th minute of the period. Brayden Point’s 5th power play goal of the year would put Tampa Bay in front. The Toronto crowd was only momentarily quieted though. Just 2 minutes later Nazem Kadri would tip it in past Vasilevskiy to tie the game. Nikita Kucherov then ended his mini slump and reminded everyone why he is an MVP candidate. The Russian moved through multiple defenders and then fired it home to retake the lead.
The Bolts extended their lead early in the 3rd from an unlikely source. Michael Bournival scored with assists from Victor Hedman and Andrej Sustr to make it a 2-goal lead. Things would stand pat until Point added his 2nd of the game in a 4 on 4 situation. That 3 goal lead would certainly be enough for the Bolts down the stretch as they secured the victory to stay alive in the playoff race.
The 2nd half of the final back to back of the year comes on Friday night. The Bolts will be in Montreal to face the Canadiens. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 with pregame coverage beginning at 7 on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
None
2ND PERIOD
1. Tampa Bay - PPG - Point - (Palat, Hedman) - 7:34
2. Toronto - Kadri - (Hunwick, Bozak) - 9:42
3. Tampa Bay - Kucherov - (Hedman) - 11:50
3RD PERIOD
1. Tampa Bay - Bournival - (Sustr, Hedman) - 2:00
2. Tampa Bay - Point - (Palat, Dotchin) - 14:11
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. Toronto - Hyman - (Tripping) - 7:31
2. Tampa Bay - Sustr - (Hooking) - 12:21
3. Tampa Bay - Stralman - (Tripping) - 14:13
2ND PERIOD
1. Tampa Bay - Coburn - (Interference) - 2:09
2. Toronto - Martin - (Fighting) - 4:55
3. Tampa Bay - Coburn - (Fighting) - 4:55
4. Toronto - Polak - (Interference) - 6:37
3RD PERIOD
1. Toronto - Bozak - (Roughing) - 13:12
2. Tampa Bay - Kucherov - (Cross Checking) - 13:12
3. Toronto - Martin - (Game Misconduct) - 17:32
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 30
Toronto - 27