For the second time this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning competed on back-to-back nights.
By now you’ve probably heard that Nikita Kucherov has scored six goals – in as many games. However, let’s acknowledge that, the entire Tampa Bay Lightning (5-1-1) team has been performing quite admirably.
Prior to tonight’s New Jersey Devils (5-1-0) matchup, Tyler Johnson had scored in two straight games, Steven Stamkos posted nine points on the season, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has shown signs-of-the-future in net. But while the net-minding of the 23-year-old Russian has been on display, back-up stopper Peter Budaj hasn’t seen any game action thus far -that changed on Tuesday night.
After struggling in the first frame, Budaj settled in nicely throughout the second and third periods.
Sixty-five minutes wasn’t enough, however, for these two as the game went to overtime before, ultimately, a shoot-out goal lifted the Devils to the victory.
Five Goal First Period
Yup. The Devils and Lightning combined for five goals in the first 20 minutes of action. Before you get excited for the thought of some spectacular goals, I will tell you it was questionable goaltending that was the focus of Period One. New Jersey got on the board first when Drew Stafford (2) snuck the puck through the legs of Budaj. This was the first of two, if not three, goals that Budaj would like to have back.Having sat on the bench since December, he showed signs of rust in his first game of the 2017 season.
The Lightning took a one-goal lead after an even-strength tally from Vladislav Namestnikov and power-play goal by Ondrej Palat, before New Jersey notched their own power-play strike. Perhaps the most questionable effort from Budaj came on the Devils’ third goal. With less than a minute to go in the period, defenseman Steven Santini fed the puck in off the end boards looking for a fortunate bounce.
The puck came clean off the boards and looked as if Budaj had a chance for the interception prior to the puck getting in front of the net. The decision to allow the puck through turned out to backfire as left-wing Brian Gibbons was able to force the puck by the out-of-position goalie.
Budaj’s Revenge
The second period was much more conventional and saw a more efficient Budaj. After racking up 15 shots on goal in the opening frame, the Devils managed only nine attempts on net in the second. Budaj was unblemished in the middle stanza. Through two periods, the second-string goalie amassed 21 saves. His counterpart, Cory Schneider saw 22 shots come his way – allowing four of them through.
Streak Continues for Kucherov
Trailing by a goal in the second period, Kucherov kept his goal-scoring streak alive. Having scored goals in each of the first six games of the season, the winger took a Stamkos pass and snapped off a top-shelf bid that snuck over the glove of Schneider.
Nikita Kucherov became the sixth player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) to score in each of his team’s first seven games. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/p17Eg42hoa
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 18, 2017
Frantic Third Period Leads to OT
The third period played out like a combination of the previous two frames. Budaj made several key saves to keep his team in the lead. Brayden Point found the iron unkind. Drew Stafford found the back of the net for his second goal of the game.
With less than five minutes to play, after Andrej Sustr left the ice on a tripping penalty, the Devils struck back. Center Pavel Zacha failed to get his shot on net as defenseman Anton Stralman jumped in front of the power-play shot, Stafford picked up the loose puck, however, and flipped it passed Budaj for his second of the night.
Things got a bit testy with under two minutes to play in the game after Zacha took offense to the physicality of Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin. The referees called Zacha for roughing but Tampa Bay was unable to capitalize before the horn. Overtime, normally 3-on-3, started with a 4-on-3 for the visitors, for two seconds, until Zacha returned from the penalty box.
The rules state that if the overtime period starts with a power-play, the period will start 4-on-3. Once the power-play is over, and a whistle stoppage occurs, the teams will resume the session with three skaters each. Both teams managed just two shots on net during the frame and while the Devils had their chances, the Lightning missed an opportunity after, with :48 seconds remaining, Adam Henrique tripped Palat, setting up a man-advantage for the rest of the period. Schneider came up strong on several last second attempts from the Kucherov-Stamkos tandem.
Shootout Results:
- (NJ) Drew Stafford – MISS
- (TB) Braydon Point – MISS
- (NJ) Taylor Hall – MISS
- (TB) Nikita Kucherov – MISS
- (NJ) Kyle Palmieri – GOAL
- (TB) Ryan Callahan – MISS
Three Stars of the Game:
1st: Drew Stafford (2 Goals) 2nd: Steven Stamkos (1 Goal, 2 Assists) 3rd: Nikita Kucherov (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Notes:
Kucherov and Stamkos (12) are 1st and 2nd in the NHL in Points — After a streak of winning seven straight tail-ends of back-to-backs last season the Lightning have lost their first two this year — Tied a franchise record (7 consecutive games with a power play goal) to start a season — 4th multi-point game for Stamkos this season.
