When the top team in the league goes on a road to face the bottom team sometimes it can be a bit of a trap game. That didn’t happen to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. The Arizona Coyotes played fairly even with the Bolts in for the opening 10 minutes, but then gave the Lightning a taste of momentum. That taste led to Vlad Namestnikov and Brayden Point goals within a minute of each other. Tampa Bay wouldn’t look back and secured a 4-1 victory on the road.
Arizona held strong against the Lightning for the 1st half of the period, but as we know it only takes 1 taste of momentum. The Bolts got their 1st power play chance right at the halfway mark of the period and the league’s top unit came through again. Vlad Namestnikov scored his 13th goal of the year on a rebound after a Steven Stamkos’ shot went off the post. Less than a minute later Brayden Point got loose on a breakaway and buried the puck into the back of the net to make it a multi-goal lead. After the shots were close at 5-4, Tampa Bay ended the period with an 18-10 SOG advantage.
The Bolts didn’t slow down in the 2nd. They continued their pressure in the Arizona zone and would be rewarded once again. Nikita Kucherov was the scorer this time as his 22nd of the year made it a 3-0 lead for the Bolts.The Coyotes needed a play from 1 of their stars to get back into the game and they got it. Their rookie phenom, Clayton Keller, scored on the power play to bring the deficit back to 2 goals. Late in the period it looked as if Ryan Callahan, but the goal was disallowed and we stayed at 3-1 heading to the final period.
Tampa Bay didn’t wait long at all to put this one back out of reach. It happened on the Bolts first shift of the period. Tyler Johnson continued his hot play and scored to make it a 4-1 game before the Coyotes could even blink. Things got a little chippy throughout the remainder of the period. Chris Kunitz and Brayden Point were both involved in fights individually, but neither team really got a bump from those scrums and the game ended with that 4-1 score.
The Bolts will continue this 4-game Western Conference road trip on Saturday night. The Lightning will face the Colorado Avalanche for the 2nd time this season. The puck is scheduled to drop at 9 pm with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior up the dial on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. TBL - PPG - Namestnikov - (Stamkos, Kucherov) - 11:30
2. TBL - Point - (Palat, Johnson) - 12:11
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - Kucherov - (Hedman) - 6:11
2. ARI - PPG - Keller - (Stepan, Perlini) - 11:29
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL -Johnson - (Point, Stralman) - 0:31
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. ARI - Goligoski - (Slashing) - 10:15
2. ARI - Demers - (Slashing) - 13:34
3. TBL - Killorn - (Holding) - 14:04
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - Paquette - (Roughing) - 8:11
2. ARI - Schenn - (Roughing) - 8:11
3. TBL - Sergachev - (Hooking) - 9:39
3RD PERIOD
1. TBL - Point - (Fighting) - 2:48
2. ARI - Richardson - (Fighting) - 2:48
3. ARI - Domi - (Elbowing) - 9:21
4. ARI - Cousins - (Fighting) - 9:21
5. ARI - Domi - (Roughing) - 9:21
6. TBL - Kunitz - (Fighting) - 9:21
7. TBL - Stralman - (Roughing) - 9:21
8. TBL - Conacher - (Hooking) - 14:22
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 45
Arizona - 31