The Tampa Bay Lightning (16-13-5) defeated the Las Vegas Golden Knights (21-8-5) 5-4 on Thursday night at Amalie Arena.
Vegas scored twice in the first period to build an early 2-0 lead. However, the Lightning erupted with four goals in the second period - including two goals 33 seconds apart after the Lightning were given a 5-on-3 power play advantage - to take a 4-2 lead.
That lead would evaporate in the third period as the Golden Knights scored two more to tie the game 4-4. That set up heroics from Nick Paul, who scored on a wrist shot at the 18:47 mark of the third period, and lifted the Lightning to a 5-4 win in regulation.
Andrei Vasilevskiy went 30-of-34 in net in the winning effort.
The Lightning now head to Washington to play the Capitals on Saturday night. Puck drop from Washington DC is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Saturday evening.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES