The Tampa Bay Lightning came into the game against the lowly Oilers on a two game losing streak, not having lost three straight all season. Thanks to Ondrej Palat and Steven Stamkos, the Bolts prevailed 3-2 at Amalie Arena. Edmonton lost their 14th road game of the season extending the longest road losing streak in franchise history.
The Bolts played without their best defenseman, Victor Hedman for the second consecutive game, but in a surprise, forward Tyler Johnson returned to reunite the Triplets line.
The first period saw the Lightning playing very sloppy, especially in their own zone. The only goal of the period was of a shorthanded variety. With Tampa Bay on the power play, Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins blew by defenseman Anton Stralman and fired a shot on Ben Bishop. Former Bolt Benoit Pouliot snagged the rebound and scored his ninth at 13:52. Pouliot has six goals in his last four games.
The Lightning could only muster five shots in the period to the Oilers 10.
At 7:10 of the second period, Jason Garrison found Matt Carle coming out of the penalty box, who drew the defense towards him and then found Steven Stamkos breaking to the net. The Lightning sniper buried it over goalie Ben Scrivens‘ left shoulder for his 26th of the season and his sixth in six games, which tied him with Tyler Seguin and Rick Nash for the NHL lead.
Edmonton went up 2-1 on a power play goal by Pouliot that bounced of Garrison with 57.3 seconds left in the period.
At the end of the second period, Edmonton was outshooting Tampa Bay 18-10.
Ondrej Palat tied the game at two from Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson at 1:33 of the third period. Johnson circled the net. passed to Kucherov in front who let the shot go. Palat had gotten lost behind the Oilers defensemen, found the rebound and scored his tenth of the season.
With 8:01 to go in the third, Ondrej Palat did it again, off a nice pass from Tyler Johnson. Nikita Nesterov also assisted on the game winning goal, making a nice play to keep it in and get it to Johnson. It was Nesterov’s second NHL point.
Tampa Bay was out-shot 32-19. Ben Bishop was outstanding in net.
The Lightning won their first game of the season when trailing after two periods. It was their sixth consecutive home win, all by one goal.
Former Bolts fan favorite Teddy Purcell returned to Tampa Bay for the first time since he was traded away in the offseason.
Brett Connolly played only 5:46 in the game and just 1:18 in the third period. He didn’t see the ice for the final 11:54 of the game.
Radko Gudas (knee surgery), Jonathan Drouin (healthy), Victor Hedman (lower body) and Brenden Morrow (healthy) were the scratches. Hedman (day-to-day) is probably out until after the All-Star break.
The Lightning host the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night.
(Feature Photo/Susan Ferlita)
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