Whether a team is a buyer or a seller, the trade deadline is one of the most taxing days on NHL players. The Lightning have had the bad luck of playing on deadline day each of the past 2 years. Players show up for morning skate, but don’t know if they will be playing later that night. Last year the Lightning were sellers. This year they were buyers, but still parted ways with an important piece in Vlad Namestnikov. The Bolts didn’t play like the emotion of the day impacted them at all. The Bolts scored moments into the game and came back after Toronto fired back with 2 quick goals to take the lead. Nikita Kucherov didn’t return to the ice after the opening period because of an upper body injury, but other guys came through. Those players were Tyler Johnson and Adam Erne. Both scored in the 2nd to get the Lightning back on top heading to the final period of regulation. Toronto would come back and tie the game early in that final period. Neither team could break that tie in the period and we headed for overtime. Both goalies were fantastic in the extra period and forced a shootout. Andrei Vasilevskiy was the goalie who wouldn't blink in the shootout and Brayden Point's goal was enough to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3.
The Lightning got off to a great start at home yet again. Chris Kunitz was able to deflect in an Andrej Sustr shot to put the Maple Leafs behind less than 2 minutes into the game. The large contingent of Maple Leafs fans that were in Amalie Arena on Monday night weren’t despondent for very long. James Van Riemsdyk gave them something to cheer about when he tied the game at 1 before the halfway mark of the period. Those fans got even louder just over a minute later when Mitchell Marner’s 17th goal of the season put Toronto in front. The Bolts got the only chance on the power play late in the period, but came up empty.
The Lightning had success early in the period again to start the 2nd. This time it took them almost 4 minutes, but Tyler Johnson decided that was too long. Johnson took his own rebound behind the net and scored the wrap around goal to tie the game up at 2. The Lightning had to thwart of nearly a minute of a 5-on-3 power play near the halfway mark of the period after Yanni Gourde and Steven Stamkos got sent to the box within seconds of each other. The Bolts’ PK and Andrei Vasilevskiy were more than up to the task of keeping the game tied. The Lightning penalty kill came up big again later in the period and then the offense rewarded that effort. After playing solid all game, Adam Erne was rewarded when he got it past Frederik Andersen to put his team back in front.
The Lightning started the final period of regulation with 41 seconds remaining on a power play, but were unable to add any insurance there. Braydon Coburn was sent to the box less than 5 minutes into the period, giving Toronto a great chance to tie the game back up. They did just that. Tyler Bozak was the Maple Leaf that evened the score and woke up those Toronto fans once again. Marner was awarded a penalty shot near the 14 minute mark of the period after a questionable call on Victor Hedman. Vasilevskiy denied Marner to take some heat off of the refs and keep the game tied. The Lightning got a chance on the power play late in the game, but were unable to score and that sent us to overtime.
The Lightning will be at home again on Wednesday night. The Bolts will welcome the Buffalo Sabres to Amalie Arena. The puck is scheduled to drop 30 minutes earlier than usual at 7 pm. You will hear it all on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. TBL - Kunitz - (Sustr, Stamkos) - 1:41
2. TOR - Van Riemsdyk - (Hainsey, Rielly) - 8:49
3. TOR - Marner - (Gardiner, Zaitsev) - 9:52
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - Johnson - (Gourde) - 3:52
2. TBL - Erne - (Unassisted) - 15:18
3RD PERIOD
1. TOR - PPG - Bozak - (Marner, Rielly) - 5:27
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. TOR - Plekanec - (Roughing) - 16:20
2ND PERIOD
1. TOR - Bozak - (Hooking) - 4:56
2. TBL - Gourde - (Slashing) - 5:46
3. TBL - Stamkos - (Slashing) - 6:10
4. TBL - Killorn - (Holding) - 12:30
5. TOR - Rielly - (Cross Checking) - 18:41
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL - Coburn - (Holding) - 4:40
2. TBL - Hedman - (Hooking) - 13:58
3. TOR - Plekanec - (Tripping) - 16:12
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 42
Toronto - 30