In a game where the teams combined to go 0-for-9 on the power play, it was a shootout goal by Brady Tkachuk that proved to be the difference. He had the only successful attempt in the skills competition as the Ottawa Senators skated away with the 3-2 victory. Tkachuk and Drake Batherson scored in regulation for the visitors while Conor Sheary and Brayden Point had the tallies for the Lightning. Nikita Kucherov added two more assists to his league-leading point total.
Both goaltenders were solid as Matt Tomkins and Anton Forsberg had matching 25 of 27 nights. Forsberg was especially tough in overtime, stopping all five shots that the Lightning had in the 3-on-3 session.
The Lightning were a little shorthanded to start the game as Anthony Duclair was scratched with an illness and Austin Watson filled in for Mitchell Chaffee. Conor Sheary got only his second start in the last nine games and responded with two points.
[Gamecenter] [Natural Stat Trick] [Events Summary] [Lines]
It was a pretty workman-like first period for the Lightning despite allowing the first goal. Even the goal they allowed came from a solid offensive chance. Steven Stamkos ripped a shot on net that Jakob Chychrun pounced on and sent up the ice to Brady Tkachuk who was open at the Lightning blue line. Erik Cernak took away his option to pass so Tkachuk wired one past Tomkins.
Brady Tkachuk [35] (Jakob Chychrun) 1-0 Ottawa
That would pretty much be it for the Ottawa offense in the period as the Lightning’s top line (now with more Conor Sheary) took over.
The trio posted a shot attempt share of 85.71% while they were on the ice and had 100% of the scoring chances. Oh yeah, they also had two goals. The first came just sixty ticks of the clock after Tkachuk’s goal. It was simple wizardry from Kucherov as he snuck a quick look at the middle of the ice before spinning his pass to an open spot for Sheary to skate onto. A nice backhand beat Forsberg to even the scoring. With the assist, Kucherov set a new franchise record for points in a season.
Conor Sheary [4] (Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point) 1-1
Brayden Point would put them ahead a few minutes later. This time it was Sheary staring things off as he disrupted things behind the net to free up the puck for Kucherov. He spied Point in the middle of the ice and Pointer sold Forsberg hard on a fake that opened up the net for a backhanded tuck in. That was goal number 45 on the season for Point and assist number 98 for Kucherov (who set a new franchise record for points in a season).
Brayden Point [45] (Nikita Kucherov, Conor Sheary) 2-1 Tampa Bay
The second period was highlighted by failed power plays and more blocked shots. Shots that unfortunately took some Lightning players out of the game. The Lightning had the first crack with the extra skater and had a few good looks, but their shots found Forsberg’s pads instead of the back of the net. Even with an extended 5-on-3 they could not find success and their lead remained at just one goal.
As for the blocked shots. It was Tyler Motte, who took a Brady Tkachuk shot off of the outside of his right ankle, that was injured first. Then, a few shifts later, Erik Cernak headed to the dressing room after blocking a shot with his foot.
Down two of their best penalty killers, the Lightning ended the period with a string of penalties. They killed off a Matt Dumba interference call and most of a Nick Paul trip before tempers flared at the end of the period. As the final whistle blew, Victor Hedman took a hooking call while Shane Pinto and Anthony Cirelli went off for roughing. Hedman somehow talked his way into a misconduct while Tkachuk skated away with nothing despite delivering a slash to Brandon Hagel’s leg. Cool.
The Lightning dealt with the 5-on-3 and the ensuing 5-on-4, but just as the penalty expired, Brady Tkachuk made one more rush into the zone. He found Drake Batherson in front of the net and Tomkins made the first save, but Batherson was able to stay on the puck and tuck the rebound in between the post and Tomkins skate to tie things up.
Drake Batherson [28] (Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot) 2-2
Each team would have a fruitless power play in the period. Ottawa really controlled a lot of the play and had the best chances when Mathieu Joseph had a short-handed rush that Tomkins turned aside and Matt Dumba saved a goal by blocking Ridley Greig’s shot into a vacated net.
At the other end Stamkos just missed putting one in on a back-side tap-in which was probably the Lightning’s best chance in a period where they were credited with just five shots.
A shot total that the Lightning matched in an overtime session that included two glorious chances, one by Point that Forsberg gloved and another aerial deflection that Stamkos couldn’t quite get enough of. At the other end, Tomkins stood tall against a quality attempt from Batherson.
To the shootout:
Hedman – missed Tkachuck – goal
Point – saved Giroux – missed
Stamkos – post
