You never know how a team is going to perform after a bit of a break. The Lightning had been in a great rhythm, winning 9 out of 10 games. The Bolts had been off since Saturday though before welcoming the Montreal Canadiens to Amalie Arena on Thursday. The Bolts didn’t lead till the final period, but that period was by far their best of the night. Steven Stamkos led the way with 2 goals as the Bolts spoiled Jonathan Drouin’s return to Tampa Bay with a 3-1 victory over Montreal.
The Bolts dominated the early stages of this game. They got their 1st power play opportunity at the 5 minute mark. The Lightning had numerous fantastic chance, but Carey Price showed the world why he is paid as much as he is. At one point in the period Tampa Bay held an 11-1 shots on goal advantage, but the Montreal goaltender kept the game scoreless through that early surge. Andrei Vasilevskiy had to make some stellar saves of his own. The best save came on a Montreal power play late in the period. Vasy made the save on Daniel Carr and we went to the 2nd period with goose eggs still on the scoreboard.
The Lightning started the 2nd period on the power play because of some extra activities after the 1st period whistle. Tampa Bay didn’t nearly have the success they did on their power play opportunity in the 1st and couldn’t take the lead. Montreal wouldn’t have that same problem. After Andrej Sustr was sent to the box, the Canadiens had a fantastic power play. Their effort was rewarded when Brendan Gallagher scored his 15th goal of the season to put his team on top. Things weren’t going the way of the Lightning for the majority of the period, but in the closing seconds the Bolts’ best players did what they do best. Nikita Kucherov fed Steven Stamkos a goal on a silver platter and the Captain buried it to tie the game heading to the final period of regulation.
The Bolts used that momentum early in the third. Brayden Point was the benefactor of a massive scrum in front of Carey Price. He was in the right place at the right time. That goal gave Tampa Bay the lead only 30 seconds into the final period. As we’ve seen this entire season, you don’t want to give the Lightning any taste of momentum. After an Alex Killorn goal was called off, Tampa Bay got almost a minute of a 5-on-3 advantage. Stamkos was Johnny on the spot with an absolute bullet that doubled the lead. The Lightning continued to get their legs under them in the final frame. The period was the best of the night for Tampa Bay and they held onto the 3-1 victory.
The Lightning will be right back on the ice tomorrow night for the 2nd half of a back-to-back. Tampa Bay welcomes the Philadelphia Flyers to Amalie Arena for the final home game of 2017. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 with pregame coverage beginning an hour prior up the dial on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
1. MTL - PPG - Gallagher - (Hudon, Morrow) - 3:40
2. TBL - Stamkos - (Kucherov, Hedman) - 19:48
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL -Point - (Johnson, Palat) - 0:30
2. TBL - PPG - Stamkos - (Namestnikov, Palat) - 4:45
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. MTL - Plekanec - (Holding) - 4:58
2. TBL - Killorn - (Tripping) -12:52
3. MTL - Alzner - (Cross Checking) 20:00
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - Sustr - (High Sticking) - 2:27
2. MTL - Benn - (Delay of Game) - 7:03
3. MTL - Galchenyuk - (Goaltender Interference) - 9:45
3RD PERIOD
1. MTL - Deslauriers - (Holding) - 3:01
2. MTL - Pacioretty - (Hooking) - 4:08
3. MTL - Danault - (Roughing) - 11:45
4. TBL - Dotchin - (Roughing) - 11:45
5. TBL - Point - (Tripping) - 13:05
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 34
Montreal - 32