5
0
Vasiy might get spoiled by this much goal support.
TB-8
CAR-2
Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 24 shots for the victory in his season debut after returning from back surgery. I could argue this was, in some ways, a classic Lightning game where Vasilevskiy held the game close after a slow start and then the team got their scoring going and by the end you forget how important Vasiy’s early game contribution was.
First Period
18:12 CAR Noesen (5), (Drury, Bunting)
Second Period
1:34 TB Stamkos (9), (Point, Kucherov)(PP)
5:40 TB Kucherov (14), (Hagel, Eyssimont)(PP)
5:54 TB Point (9), (Kucherov, Hedman)(PP)
14:45 CAR Bunting (4), (Svechnikov)(PP)
Third Period
5:33 TB Hagel (10), (Point, Kucherov)
6:53 TB Glendening (3), (unassisted)
10:41 TB Point (10), (Perbix, Koepke)
16:45 TB Kucherov (15), (Hagel, Sergachev)
18:08 TB Point (11), (Kucherov, Stamkos)(PP)
Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov were the game’s first and second stars.
Carolina outshot the Lightning 8-1 in the opening frame, and then proceeded to get strafed for eight goals on just 13 shots the rest of the way. It was the highest shooting percentage game in NHL and the most efficiently constructed snowman in the history of mankind. The moral of the night: you mess around with the Lightning’s power play and they can destroy your life. Tampa Bay, despite being mediocre-at-best this year 5v5, has been the best team in the league on special teams and their PK will only get better now with the return of Vasilevskiy.
Darren Raddysh played 15:42.
Cole Koepke had a helper and 2 hits in 6:38.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
