There are certain factors that are the mark of a good hockey team. Playing well on the road is certainly one of those factors. The Tampa Bay Lightning have gotten off to an outstanding start on home ice and now have continued that play on the road. Tampa Bay had to get a go-ahead goal from J.T. Brown in the 3rd period, but that was enough to defeat the Anaheim Ducks. The 2-1 victory ended a perfect California swing for Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were on their game early. The offense spent a lot of time in the Anaheim zone. The Bolts offense was even bolstered by a power play chance 3 minutes into the period. John Gibson was up to the task though. He made a fantastic save on Brayden Point as the penalty expired to keep the Bolts off of the board. That didn’t stop the Tampa Bay momentum. The offense dominated the 1st period and got numerous great chances at the Anaheim net. At 1 point in the frame the Bolts had 9 straight shots, but Gibson did his best to keep his team in the game. The Ducks’ goalie made fantastic saves on Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos as he continued to be the best player on the ice.
Early in the 2nd period it was Andrei Vasilevskiy who needed to be the best player on the ice. The Bolts got a little too cute with the puck in the opening minutes. That led to a few good chances for Anaheim, including a breakaway. Vasilevskiy continued his great early season form and kept the game scoreless. The offense backed Vasy up minutes later. On the Bolts 2nd power play opportunity of the game Vlad Namestnikov scored for his 3rd straight game and gave his team the lead. The Bolts had a fantastic chance to extend the lead late in the period, but Gibson was once again stout as he swatted away an Ondrej Palat breakaway chance.
Sometimes rookies make mistakes. Mikhail Sergachev made one early in the final period. The rookie failed to clear a puck and Jacob Silfverberg made the youngster pay. The Anaheim right winger’s 5th goal of the season tied the game up with a lot of time left to play. The Bolts would regain the momentum thanks to somewhat of an unexpected source. J.T. Brown’s great play of late was finally rewarded. His 1st goal of the season was the go-ahead goal for Tampa Bay. Anaheim certainly turned up the pressure to try and tie the game back up. After Ryan Callahan was called for holding the stick, Brandon Montour looked to have tied it up on a power play goal. The Anaheim defenseman celebrated like he had scored, but the refs called it no goal on the ice. The play was reviewed, but there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call.
The Bolts will have a few days off before returning home from the California road trip. That return to Amalie Arena comes on Thursday and the Lightning will face a former face. Ben Bishop and the Dallas Stars will be the opponents. The puck is slated to drop around 7:30 pm with pregame coverage beginning an hour prior on News Radio 970 WFLA.
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
NONE
2ND PERIOD
1. TBL - PPG - Namestnikov - (Kucherov, Stamkos) - 9:12
3RD PERIOD
1. ANA - Silvferberg - (Wagner, Cogliano) - 3:48
2. TBL - Brown - (Kunitz, Callahan) - 7:18
PENALTY SUMMARY
1ST PERIOD
1. ANA - Perry - (Hooking) - 3:08
2ND PERIOD
1. ANA - Montour - (Hooking) - 7:12
3RD PERIOD
1.TBL - Callahan - (Holding The Stick) - 10:27
SHOTS ON GOAL
Tampa Bay - 37
Anaheim - 29