Kucherov, Lightning Try To Get Back To Business But Fall To Nashville in Shootout
By Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports
Nikita Kucherov had three assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning had three separate one-goal leads, but defensive lapses repeatedly stung the Bolts. They ended up losing to the Predators 5-4 in the shootout.
With bombshell reports coming out late Friday evening that Nikita Kucherov had requested a trade from the team, fans and pundits alike wondered what to expect from the Lightning - and from Kucherov, in particular - today. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper stated before the game that "Kuch is 100% a part of this team," and the team and the player alike seemed intent to show that was the case. Despite ultimately only taking one point on the road, Kucherov finished the game with three assists and a +3 rating.
The Lightning successfully killed off a Nashville power play after J.J. Moser was called for tripping at 13:37 in the first period. But just two minutes later, the Lightning defense got caught trying to join the offensive rush - leaving Moser alone to try to break up a 2v1 play. Nashville's Reid Schaefer beat Andrei Vasilevskiy on a wrister just inside the far post to give the Preds a 1-0 lead.
The Lightning responded in kind a little over two minutes later, with a John Carlson slap-pass from the blue line deflecting into the net off of a Nashville player. This marks the second game in a row that Carlson has netted a goal, giving him a total of five so far on the season.
High-Octane Offense in the Second Period
Though the first period was relatively low event, the second was anything but. The teams traded goals, each registering two apiece at even strength - including one for each side within the first 45 seconds of play after intermission.
Guentzel opened the scoring just 18 seconds in, tipping a Carlson shot from the blue line. He now shares the team goal lead with Brandon Hagel at 8 through 13 games. Kucherov picked up his second assist of the night on the play as well.
But another costly defensive mistake would bite the Bolts less than 30 seconds later. In what felt like a replay from the Twilight Zone on this Halloween afternoon, Moser again faced a 2v1 in front of Vasilevskiy after a defensive miscommunication and turnover at the opposite blue line. Nashville's Adam Edstrom beat Moser and Vasilevskiy both to tie the game at 2-2. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper would describe both odd-man rushes as "glaring" after the game, saying they're plays that just "can't happen."
Less than three minutes later, Kucherov bagged his third assist of the game after finding the captain, Victor Hedman, streaking into the zone. Hedman beat Nashville's Justus Annunen glove-side with a wrister to give the Bolts a 3-2 lead. Asked about when he knew he was going to receive that pass, Hedman replied, "As soon as I saw who had the puck."
The Lightning were unable to close that period out, however. Nashville's Jayden Struble snapped a shot between Vasilevskiy's body and blocker on the short side with under 18 seconds left to go. The teams entered the third tied 3-3.
Lightning Power Play Falters Again
Although the Lightning's power play had shown signs of life in recent games, they were repeatedly stymied by Nashville's fourth-ranked PK unit, going 0-for-1 in the second period and 0-for-2 in the third.
At 3:31 into the period, Jeff Viel snuck a pass back through the slot to Connor Geekie, who roofed the puck over Annunen to give the Lightning the lead again at 4-3. This tally marked his third goal in as many games, the first such streak in his career.
Nashville was not yet finished scoring goals, however. Former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos would follow up on his own rebound, putting a puck past Vasilevskiy for the first time in his career at 7:27 – and in true Steven Stamkos fashion, he did it on the power play. He now sits tied with Lightning founder Phil Esposito on the all-time NHL power play goals list with 246 in his storied career.
Tied 4-4, the Bolts and Preds played a chaotic overtime period that saw Moser nearly end it on a backhander for the visitors. Annunen knocked the puck down with his glove and ultimately kept things locked down through the shootout. It was Vasilevskiy and the Bolts who blinked first, with Stamkos scoring the game winner on a backhander in round four against his former club. Final score 5-4 Nashville.
Thunderstruck Three Stars of the Game
Steven Stamkos, Nashville. One power play goal and the lone shootout goal.
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay. Three assists.
John Carlson, Tampa Bay. One goal and one assist.
Up Next
The Tampa Bay Lightning head back home to Benchmark Arena to face the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. Puck drop is at 7 pm.
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