Just find ways to win. It's not always pretty, it's definitely not easy this time of year. When every single point in the standings is precious, the Lightning have risen to the occasion one more time.
The Bolts rallied from a 3-1 deficit, tying the game on 5-on-3 power play with a goal by Teddy Purcell, his 19th of the season.
Then in overtime, Carolina forward Brandon Sutter barreled into Tampa Bay goaltender Mathieu Garon drawing a roughing penalty. Tampa Bay capitalized, scoring the game winning goal as Steven Stamkos blasted it in on a feed from Purcell.
Stamkos finished with two goals on the night, giving him 47 on the season. The Lightning also saw newcomer Tim Wallace score his first NHL goal.
Mathieu Garon was at times sensational for the Bolts, making one big save after another in the third period and overtime. He would finish with 24 saves on 27 shots.
The Lightning are now with two points of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tampa Bay also holds a game in hand on the current owner of the spot, Winnipeg.
After Anthony Stewart scored the game tying goal for Carolina early in the second, the Hurricanes added two goals in a 1:16 to shock the Lightning and take a 3-1 lead.
Turnovers led Jussi Jokinen’s 10th goal of the season while Jiri Tlusty added his 15th to give the Hurricanes a two goal advantage 4:42 left in the second.
Tampa Bay’s Super sniper Steven Stamkos scored a highlight reel goal at 18:00 mark of the period, stealing the puck in his own zone, speeding through the neutral zone and into the Carolina zone then rocketing a shot past Hurricane goalie Cam Ward to shave the Canes’ lead to 3-2 before second intermission.
Tampa Bay is tied for league lead in victories after trailing going into the third period. They’ll need to do it again if they want to keep their winning streak alive.
The Tampa Bay Lightning got a goal from an unexpected source and despite playing games in consecutive nights, they’ve taken a 1-0 lead over Carolina into the first intermission at RBC Center.
Tampa Bay claimed forward Tim Wallace from the NY Islanders earlier in the week and making his Lightning debut, he scored his first NHL goal on Canes netminder Cam Ward.
Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon continued his superb hotstreak, stopping all eight shots in the first period, some of the dazzling variety.
The Lightning continue to bring their more aggressive heavy checking style into this one and it’s worked thus far.
Tampa Bay forward Ryan Malone took a late hooking penalty on Jeff Skinner at the 19:06 mark. The Hurricanes will have 1:04 left on the powerplay when play resumes in the second period.
