It was deja vu all over again! The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Ottawa Senators for the second time in the last three nights. Once again, it was a very tight game. Once again, Brandon Hagel scored a big go-ahead goal. And once again, Andrei Vasilevskiy was stellar in net. Most importantly, once again, the Lightning emerged victorious and picked up two important points in the standings.
Hoping for Deja Vu
It’s no secret that the Lightning have struggled against Atlantic division opponents this season. But as they jockey for position within the division and vie for a playoff spot, their division games become all the more critical. In a scheduling rarity, the Bolts found themselves hosting their division rival Ottawa Senators for two games in a row. Ottawa came into the two-game series just ahead of the Lightning in the standings, so these points were crucial for both teams. The Bolts took the first of the two games on Tuesday night as they hung on to beat the Senators by a 4-3 final. They were hoping for deja vu in the outcome tonight with another victory.
The Sens had some jump in their step early on, which led to an early Ottawa power play. But before their power play could start, the Bolts would have to touch the puck. That seemed to be a tough ask for a while! Eventually, the Lightning did touch the puck and started the penalty kill. They were without one of their top penalty killers in Anthony Cirelli tonight. Still, they killed off the penalty with no damage.
Moments later, the Bolts got a power play of their own. The Senators almost killed it off. But with five seconds remaining on the man advantage, Jake Guentzel found a rebound and tipped it past Anton Forsberg to put the Bolts up 1-0 right around mimdway through the first.
“SCORREEE!!! Guentzel on the rebound!”
The power play cashes in to open the scoring!#OTTvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/8aeUA33Exm— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) February 7, 2025
That would be all the scoring for the opening period as the Lightning took a 1-0 lead to the dressing room.
Power Play Deja Vu
The second period started out similar to the first with the Bolts taking an early penalty. This time, it was netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy who was guilty of the infraction. Gage Goncalves served it on his behalf. Vasilevskiy seemed determined not to allow his own penalty to cost the team a goal. He made a couple of nice saves and once again, the Lightning killed off the penalty.
Moments later, the Senators would not be denied. After a bit of sloppy defense from the Bolts, Michael Amadio scored his fifth of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
As the game hit its midway point, in true deja vu fashion, Brandon Hagel struck again! Hagel, who had scored the go-ahead goal in the third period against Ottawa on Tuesday night, took a perfect pass from Ryan McDonagh. Hagel beat his defender, Thomas Chabot, went in alone and tucked a wrister past Forsberg to put the boys in blue up 2-1.
“Hagel’s in alone, SCORREEE!!! BRANDON HAGEL!”
McDonagh dishes a tape-to-tape feed to Hagel!#OTTvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/n18Rgt3BQl— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) February 7, 2025
Once again, the Lightning would take a one-goal lead to the dressing room.
Power Play Deja Vu (Again!)
The third period started off just as the first two… with a Lightning penalty! This time, they were called for a bench minor for too many men on the ice. Once again, the Bolts killed it off.
The Senators pressed for much of the third period, but the Lightning defense and goaltender held them off at every turn. Ryan McDonagh was excellent in his defensive role. He blocked several shots and made the big plays when needed.
As the game wound down, the Bolts suddenly seemed to find their scoring touch again. With under five minutes to go in regulation, Brayden Point tallied his 29th of the season to give the Lightning some breathing room with a two-goal lead.
“BRAYDEN POINT!!! BRAYDEN POINT!!!”
Point scores on a knuckler to beat Anton Forsberg!#OTTvsTBL
🎧: https://t.co/S6Y9TymMk9
📻: @1025TheBone pic.twitter.com/VVuc8DBJyB— Lightning Audio Network (@BoltsRadio) February 7, 2025
And in the final minute, the Bolts scored twice! With the extra attacker on for the Senators, Erik Cernak cleared the puck down the ice and it found the empty net. The Lightning had this game well in hand but added one more for good measure to end the homestand. Mitchell Chaffee notched his tenth of the season with 26 seconds remaining to finish this one with a 5-1 final.
The Lightning close out this homestand with a 3-1-1 record and move back into third place in the Atlantic division. They tie the Senators with 62 points, but Ottawa has played two more games, giving the Bolts the tie-breaker advantage.
Three Stars
1- Andrei Vasilevskiy- stopped 27 of 28 shots and notched an assist (on Hagel’s goal)
2- Brandon Hagel- game winning goal
3- Ryan McDonagh- excellent defensive night (finished +3), 1 assist
Up Next
The Bolts will head on the road for their final two games before the Four Nations Face-Off begins next week. The trip starts with a stop in Detroit Saturday afternoon for a 1pm puck drop.
