The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-0 in Tampa Saturday night.
There’s not much more anybody could ask for after this one. Five goals, the most since scoring six in a win at Boston back on October 12. A shutout for goalie Ben Bishop who steered aside 30 shots. Three points (two goals and an assist) for Steven Stamkos. Three points (a goal and two assists) for Nikita Kucherov. Most importantly, the two points in the standings that come along as a result of all of those things.
“It’s pretty nice. It was a lot of fun. Obviously to get some goals; it was probably the most electric I’ve seen the building all season. The fans were definitely behind us. It’s just fun. Saturday night, everyone’s happy” – Bishop
Combined with Thursday’s win against the New York Rangers, the Lightning now have a two-game winning streak, and against two teams that have been playing very well as of late.
“We’re not going to pat ourselves on the back yet. We have some tough games coming up so we’re going to try and string some in a row.” – Stamkos
After a scoreless first period, the Lightning got their first goal of the night at 5:47 of the second on a goal from Kucherov on assists from Andrej Sustr and Joel Vermin.
It looked like Anaheim had tied the game at 11:06 when Ryan Kesler rang one off the inside of the post but it was waved off immediately as the puck never crossed the goal line.
“If I hit that a cenitmeter closer, it goes in off the post. Instead, it finds a way to stay out. That’s the way my year has been going and it’s not from lack of chances. The puck just seems like it doesn’t want to go in.” – Kesler
At 12:35, Stamkos scored his first goal of the night with help from Ryan Callahan.
Just over a minute later at 13:49, he scored his second, this time on the power play on assists from Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov.
The Lightning carried a healthy 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
They made it 4-0 at the 5:29 mark, with Brian Boyle scoring on an assist from J.T. Brown.
They would cap things off with another power play goal at 10:01, this time from Jonathan Marchessault. Kucherov and Stamkos added the helpers.
“It’s always reassuring, especially when you play those type of caliber teams and you see those results. The guys that have been called up have really stepped up and played outstanding. Bish has played great, and tonight was a result of finally getting the bounces to go our way. Hopefully they come in bunches now.” – Stamkos
The Lightning host the Los Angeles Kings this Wednesday.
Game notes:
- The Lightning and Ducks meet twice this season, both games played within 12 days of each other with the Lightning visiting Anaheim on December 2.
- The Lightning haven’t lost to the Ducks in regulation since December 9, 2006. They’re 6-0-4 vs Anaheim since then, and have won the last four at home.
- Callahan’s inclusion in the line-up was a last-minute decision. Mike Angelidis and Mike Blunden were scratches.
- This is only the second time the Lightning have scored as many as five goals in a game this season.
- The Lightning are now 7-0-0 when leading after two periods this season.
- It was announced at the game that this was the first goal of Marchessault’s NHL career, but he actually scored his first on April 11, 2015, last season in a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Amalie Arena.
- However, Vermin’s assist was the first point of his NHL career.
- This was the first shutout of the season for Bishop, and the 13th of his career.
- The Lightning honored N’Jhari Jackson as the tenth Lightning Community Hero of the year during the first period of tonight’s game. Jackson, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate the money to the Boy Scouts of America-Troop 142, Shriners Hospital Haley House, the Paideia School and Children’s Home Society. Jackson is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 142 and has been at the center of involvement with American Hero Pajama Buddies. The program delivers blankets to hospitalized veterans at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. Jackson also volunteers at Camp Virginia Jaycee where he provided 75 hours of service to those with special needs. He served as a junior camp counselor where he exemplified humbleness, patience and the giving of oneself to grow a community. His good works have rubbed off on today’s youth and hopes for a chain reaction of kindness to spread for years to come. His legacy moving forward is to keep shining light on selfness acts of kindness rather it is helping someone in the community feel better, encouraging a fellow scout to reach the next rank or by opening the door for the person behind him.
