5
0
Injury questions cloud offensive explosion.
TB-7
MTL-4
Matt Tomkins, playing in an emergency capacity with Jonas Johansson nicked up, allowed four goals on 30 shots for the win. Sweet, sweet goal support.
First Period
2:37 MTL Armia (15), (Gallagher, Newhook)
9:45 TB Paul (21), (Point, Kucherov)(PP)
16:26 TB Eyssimont (11), (Motte, Dumba)
Second Period
4:42 MTL Armia (16), (Newhook, Gallagher)
7:58 TB Stamkos (33), (Cirelli, deHaan)
9:12 TB Paul (22), (Eyssimont)
13:18 TB Hagel (24), (Raddysh, Cirelli)
17:45 TB Kucherov (43), (Point, Stamkos)(PP)
Third Period
8:40 MTL Slafkovsky (16), (Xhekaj, Matheson)
11:51 MTL Caufield (22), (Suzuki, Slafkovsky)
19:06 TB Stamkos (34), (Kucherov)(EN)
Nick Paul and Nikita Kucherov were the game’s first and second stars.
Getting back to standard operating procedure of going through Eastern Canada and wiping the floor with them is nice. Seeing Anthony Cirelli only play 8:51 because of an injury and later to see Brandon Hagel leave due to a collision with Steven Stamkos is not nice. The Lightning finally have a second line for the first time all season thanks to reshuffling caused by the Duclair acquisition and now they’re out in these mean streets giving each other friendly fire. Hopefully both players did not return out of an abundance of caution with a game well in hand in a standings position with not a lot of drama.
Mitchell Chaffee had 1 shot, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 12:41.
Emil Lilleberg was -1 with 2 hits and 2 blocked shots in 14:07. Could’ve easily had a helper on a Hedman-esque stretch pass up the middle that sprung Hagel on a breakaway that Hagel unfortunately couldn’t cash. Great pass, though.
Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.
