3
0
Tampa Bay grinds out a win against outmatched Chicago.
TB-4
CHI-1
Brian Elliott allowed one goal on 26 shots for the victory. Had a lot of work to do in the First Period. Could’ve played in a hammock the final 40 minutes.
First Period
4:50 CHI Jones (2), (Raddysh, Domi)
11:24 TB Maroon (2), (Hedman)
Second Period
NO SCORING
Third Period
7:11 TB Killorn (12), (Hagel)
10:14 TB Hagel (15), (Point, Stamkos)(PP)
18:54 TB Paul (14), (Bellemare, Hedman)(SH)(EN)
Pat Maroon, Brandon Hagel, and Elliott were the game’s three stars.
The Lightning had a sleepy start to this one and only got out of the First Period thanks to a goal against the run of play. From there on out, Stalock kept the Blackhawks in the running but it was all Tampa Bay Lightning until eventually the dam broke. Chicago isn’t that good and finally succumbed to the inevitable.
Tampa Bay needs at least four of the remaining eight points in this ten game segment to clinch a successful 10-game segment, but thanks to insurance points in hand are already one point clear of their 48 point milestone for the end of the segment. Solid playoff pacing, and it feels like the team may be pivoting their sights toward better playoff seeding to at least get home ice against Toronto if they can’t reel in Boston.
Nick Perbix had one hit in 12:17.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
