The Tampa Bay Lightning struggled on both sides of the ice as they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-0. Tuevo Teravainen scored a hat trick for Carolina as the Hurricane defense suffocated the Bolts’ forwards throughout the game. For only the fifth time in Lightning history, the Bolts were held without a shot in the second period. The shotless period was the first in the NHL this season.
The Lightning recorded only four shots in the first period while the defense sputtered. Andrei Svechnikov started the scoring early for the Hurricanes with a top-shelf shot over the shoulder of Tampa Bay netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy. Teravainen added an almost identical shot over Vasilevskiy’s shoulder later in the period.
ON FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2e62tqzVeQ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 5, 2023
Teravainen and Shane Gostisbehere added a goal each in the second period. The Hurricane Forward completed the hat trick in the third. Jesperi Kotkaniemi wrapped up a five-point effort and the Carolina scoring clinic with the fourth power play goal of the game.
Lightning Woes Continue
The Bolts have allowed four or more goals in five of the past six games. The lone game was against Detroit where Vasilevskiy shut out the Red Wings on 45 shots.
Tampa Bay was 1-for-5 on the penalty kill, allowing the Hurricanes to score four goals. The Bolts’ power play was ineffective in their two opportunities with a man advantage.
The scoreless second period was the first for the Lightning since October 16, 2019. The team that held the Bolts scoreless: Carolina. The Hurricane defense held court against Tampa Bay today holding them to 14 shots total. The Lightning never found a rhythm during the game until the third period when the outcome was long dictated by Carolina.
The Lightning fall to 15-16-1 on the road the season.
Injuries Adding Up
Tampa Bay suffered two key injuries in the second period that hampered their chances of getting back in the game. Victor Hedman has to be helped off the ice after slamming into the boards mid-period. He returned for one shift, but quickly headed back to the locker room and would not return.
Nikita Kucherov also was injured when he took a puck to the face later in the period. He would later return. Mikhail Sergachev also suffered an injury to his knee, but remained in the game.
Three Stars of the Game
Tuevo Teravainen, Carolina. The forward from Finland excelled with the hat trick tonight. He was a presence on the ice every shift and Tampa Bay could not contain him.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Carolina. One goal and four assists. Keeping with the Finnish theme, Kotkaniemi had a career game.
Frederik Andersen, Carolina. Even though he only faced 14 shots, a NHL shutout is an NHL shutout. When Tampa Bay could muster some offense, Andersen was stellar in the crease and kept the Bolts at bay.
Up Next
Tampa Bay returns home this week for a much needed four-game stand at Amalie Arena. Tuesday night the Philadelphia Flyers come to town. Puck drop is at 7:00pm.
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