The Tampa Bay Lightning were looking to make franchise history by sweeping a five-game road trip for the first time on Saturday. The challenge? An afternoon date with the Sens, the second meeting between the divisional foes this season. The Bolts picked up a 5-3 win in Ottawa early in November.
The first period was one in which the Bolts controlled the puck well. They amounted a good portion of zone time. Specifically, after an early penalty to the Sens, Tampa Bay had the puck on a string in the Ottawa end. Unfortunately for the Lightning, they were unable to convert. Later, a hot Senator struck for the period’s only goal. A split-second mistake and the Bolts were trailing.
Perfect puck movement
Right off a face-off late in the first, Ottawa showed they could cycle the puck themselves, but they were able to capitalize. The puck drew back to the point, and a few passes later Drake Batherson set up Josh Norris in the slot. He banged home the one-timer for a team-high 12th of the year.
The Sens would carry a 1-0 lead into the locker room after twenty minutes.
Special teams crucial in Sen-sational second
The second period was all Senators. The Tampa Bay penalty kill has struggled as of late, and that continued in this one. It’s been just over 50% in their last six games.
First, Brady Tkachuk found a spinning pass from Tim Stutzle in the goalmouth and banged it home to double the Sen lead. The Senators wound up racking up six shots solely on the man-advantage in the frame, meanwhile the Bolts couldn’t generate a single shot on either of their last two chances.
Tkachuk’s second opens up Ottawa lead
Thomas Chabot looked to have scored his first of the season on yet another power play strike for Ottawa, but his rocket from the point was evnetually found to have been tipped home by Tkachuk. In a second period full of special teams, the Senators simply capitalized while the Bolts struggled, and the second Tkachuk goal gave Ottawa a commanding 3-0 lead after two.
Senator captain grabs hat trick in third as Bolts fall
The third period saw another failed Lightning power play attempt. It was one last effort to get something going with 6 minutes to play, but yet again Tampa Bay was unsuccessful. The frame also ended up having multiple firsts, as Tkachuk netted his first career hat trick on an empty netter. The game wrapped up with the first career shutout for Sens netminder Anton Forsberg. 4-0 was the final.
Our three stars of the game
- Brady Tkachuk: 1st career NHL hat trick.
- Anton Forsberg: 1st career NHL shutout.
- Drake Batherson: 3 assists.
