The Tampa Bay Lightning have started several of their games this season with a fire burning in their eyes. In this one, however, it was the Carolina Hurricanes who possessed that inner blaze.
From the instant the puck hit the ice, Carolina looked more like the NHL-leading team. At least more-so than the Lightning did. They maintained possession, fired dangerous shots, and stifled Tampa Bay’s occasional rush.
With the aid of two power plays, the Hurricanes kept constant pressure on the Lightning, but were unable to gain a lead.
This would large part be due to Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. He, along with seven blocked shots, kept Carolina off the scoreboard in moments of absolute desperation. The threat of a goal seemed to be looming over the heads of the Lightning who had bent, but not broken.
The man advantage proved to be the spark Tampa Bay needed to sway things in their favor. It would be a pair of triplets who lighted the way.
When the pressure finally subsided, Tyler Johnson and the Lightning drew first blood on the power play. Ondrej Palat, being the aggressive player that he is, would crash the net giving Johnson a juicy rebound in the aftermath.
Johnson buried his fourth goal of the season. The goal gave his team a 1-0 lead at the 19:25 of the first period.
The buzzer sounded and Tampa Bay left the ice after the first with an undeserved lead in goals and, surprisingly, in shots 10-7. Even still, the sour faces were proof they were disappointed with their performance as they headed to the locker room.
Mikhail Sergachev entered his rookie contract with one of the best games of his young career.
It was just a few hours ago when it was speculated if Tampa Bay would keep the young Sergachev on the main roster and begin his rookie contract. They decided to do just that and it paid off.
The young defenseman answered any critics with several key defensive plays and his fourth goal of the season. This goal was not only his fourth, but his fourth in the last three games and most by any defenseman of this early season.
It’s hard to believe that this kid has only played 14 NHL games with the amount of poise, hockey sense, and talent he has displayed for the Tampa Bay faithful. This writer found himself noticing Sergachev a lot more with each game he plays. It is still early, but one can see why the Lightning decided to keep this kid around.
The Hurricanes definitely added a bit of chaos. In the end it would be Vasilevskiy who calmed the storm. Once the dust settled, the Lightning left PNC Arena with a 5-1 victory.
The 5-1 score is a bit misleading. Three of Tampa Bay’s goals came during the final three minutes – two were empty-netters.
The Russian netminder turned away 31 out of 32 shots and no they were not easy. Vasilevskiy legitimately stood on his head to keep his team in it.
In the third period, the solid team defense that he had in front of him disappeared and Carolina’s only goal of the game from defenseman Jaccob Slavin was scored.
For the remaining ten minutes of the third, Vasilevskiy had to be absolutely brilliant and a bit lucky. The Tampa Bay area let out a sigh of relief when Vlad Namestnikov scored an empty netter with a little over two minutes left.
It’s a good thing Ben Bishop left his lucky horse shoe behind.
The final score would be fluffed up a bit with another empty netter by Ryan Callahan and some sniping from Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov and Stamkos are locked in a point streak duel with each at ten games.
Eyes will be on them Thursday night against the Red Wings as they aim to keep it going.
Three Stars of the Game
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, 31 saves & win
- Tyler Johnson, 1 PP goal, 1 assist
- Mikhail Sergachev, 1 goal
