After giving up two early goals, the Lightning answer back with five unanswered goals to take care of the visiting Ottawa Senators. A second period filled with penalties kept the game intriguing while Steven Stamkos and Bryaden Point stayed red hot to propel the Lightning offense after a sluggish start. Despite the score the Senators remained physical but could not outmatch the depth of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Senators score quick
Out of the gate Ottawa played as the better team. Thomas Chabot sent a shot from the point in which Tyler Ennis then tipped in past Andrei Vasilevskiy for the 1-0 lead. On the rush, Zach Sanford came away with the puck and whistled the puck past Vasy. Senators quickly jumped for a 2-0 lead and caught the Lightning off guard. Towards the midway point of the period Nikita Kucherov showed off his magic hands to get the Bolts on the board.
Lightning tie it up
Then, the game became a bit chippy after Brady Tkachuk and Corey Perry were called for rouging. This would not be the only time Tkachuk picked a fight with the Lightning. Later on, Tampa then tied the game thanks to Ondrej Palat and Point. Palat drove down the center line and then passed the puck to Point for the goal. Remainder of the period stayed silent as neither team generated a good enough scoring opportunity to break past the defense.
Goals and penalties
Senators looked to replicate their fast start from the 1st period and did just that. Bolts defense were able to contain them to keep the game tied at 2. Period remained quiet until tempers flared. Josh Brown and Pat Maroon engaged in a wrestling match while Tkachuk and Erik Cermak were booked for rouging. However, Bolts received a power play after Josh Brown was given an extra minor for rouging. On the power play the Lightning took the lead for the first time in the game. Steven Stamkos extended his goal streak to 5 games to give the Bolts a 3-2 lead. Next, Lightning went on the power play again minutes later. Erik Brannstrom was booked for interference continuing the discipline problem for the Senators. Fortunately for the Senators the Lightning were unable to score on the man advantage.
Even more penalties
For once the Senators get a power play opportunity after Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is called for holding. Tampa was bound to surrender a penalty after getting four straight power plays in the period. Penalty kill of the Lightning did their job and prevented the Senators from tying the game on the man advantage. Penalties finally calmed down, but the goal scoring from Tampa did not. Maroon tried to scuff the puck past Matt Murray yet came up short. Luckily, Corey Perry was nearby and tapped in the puck to extend the lead 4-2. With 2:44 left in the period Alex Killorn was called for tripping and Ottawa went on only their second power play of the game. Officiating had a busy period as that was the 9th penalty called against either team. Soon after, Bolts killed off the Killorn penalty and the period ended with the Lightning up 4-2.
Five unanswered goals
Unlike the previous periods it was Tampa’s offense who had the fast start out of the gate. New period, more penalties after Stamkos is called for interference. Tampa now has discipline issues as this was Ottawa’s third straight power play opportunity. Senators had some solid chances on this power play but could not beat Vasy and went 0-3 on the man advantage. Game remained calm until the Lightning scored their fifth unanswered goal. Mikhail Sergachev took the pass from Point and scored with ease. Score was now 5-2 in favor of the Lightning all of which went unanswered. The assist was Point’s fourth point of his impressive and productive night.
Smooth moves. pic.twitter.com/PSwlQjVZBa
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 2, 2022
Let’s get physical
Lightning played a physical game on defense and that soon lead to another fight. Anthony Cirelli made sure the punch on Cernak did not go unnoticed and dropped the gloves with Alex Formenton. As a result, both players were booked for a 2-minute minor for roughing, and 5-minute major for fighting. Since 5:36 was left in the game Cirelli and Formenton headed to their respected locker rooms. Not much action was to be had in the remainder of the period until another penalty was called. Killorn is called for Cross checking with 1:56 left in the period however the Sens struggled yet again on the power play. Tkachuk and Maroon once again engage and both players are sent off for the remainder of the game. The 5 unanswered goals doomed the Senators and the Lightning pick up the 5-2 win at home.
Three stars of the night
1st Star: Brayden Point – 1 goal and 3 assists
2nd Star: Mikhail Sergachev – 1 goal and 5 hits
3rd Star: Nikita Kucherov – 1 goal and 1 assist
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