The Tampa Bay Lightning knocked off the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 on Saturday night in Toronto. With the win, Tampa Bay took a two games to one series lead in the best of seven series against the Blue Jackets.
The first period started dangerously for Tampa Bay, who had to kill off a penalty early after Pat Maroon got called for hooking. Then at the 7:07 mark of the first, Zach Bogosian got called for tripping - then thirty-four seconds later, Blake Coleman was called for slashing, giving Columbus a long five-on-three. But Andrei Vasilevskiy stood tall as he killed off the five-on-three without allowing Columbus to score, which would prove to be huge for Tampa Bay. The Lightning helped propel that momentum into a goal from Alex Killorn at the 15:48 mark in the first and Tampa Bay would lead 1-0 after one period.
In the second period the Blue Jackets answered early, as Riley Nash scored just 1:49 into the frame. The Lightning answered as the game progressed - first when Brayden Point scored at the 14:16 mark of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Then Victor Hedman scored what would prove to be the game winner at the 18:53 mark of the second to take a 3-1 lead.
Though Eric Robinson scored early in the third to pull the Blue Jackets within 3-2, that would be as close as they would get. Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up the win with fifteen saves on seventeen shots, while Joonas Korpisalo went 31-for-34 in net in the losing effort.
Game four of the best of seven series from Toronto comes up on Monday afternoon with the Lightning looking to take a 3-1 series lead. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 PM - pregame coverage begins at 2:30 PM on News Radio WFLA.