Lightning Erase Franchise's Largest Deficit to Win in Instant Outdoor Classic
- Riley Gillespie-Wilson
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
Riley Gillespie-Wilson | Thunderstruck Sports
There was a lot of buzz as Tampa Bay and its Lightning set out to host its first-ever outdoor game. The hope was that the contest would deliver in kind. It did so and then some, quite honestly, setting the bar for outdoor games in terms of sheer entertainment value. The Bolts, taking on the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, charged back from being down 5-1, winning a 6-5 shootout battle.
Nikita Kucherov paved the way with a goal and three assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy shut the door late. It didn't begin with sunshine and rainbows for the Bolts, of course. Unless that is, you're strictly talking the first eleven seconds of game action.
Ideal Stadium Series Start for Bolts
It's hard to pick a better outcome than lighting the lamp eleven seconds into your first hosted outdoor game.
That's exactly what the Lightning did off the stick of Brandon Hagel. The goal was the quickest goal to start any outdoor game in the NHL.
Hagel found the puck off a feed from Nikita Kucherov and rapidly whipped one past Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman.
Just like that, it was 1-0 Bolts, but their fortunes certainly took a turn for the worse as the period wore on.
Three-Pronged Approach
The B's quickly put up three goals and 20 shots on net to close out the first frame. Mainly, sound deflections fooled Vasilevskiy on several occasions.
First, though, it was a one-time blast from Alex Steeves that tied the game. The shot from the high-slot made it 1-1. Then, the pair of tips gave 'Vasy' fits.
With 4:24 left in the period, it was the 31st of the season for Morgan Geekie that gave Boston their first lead of the Stadium Series game, at 2-1. Another nasty re-direct off the stick of Viktor Arvidsson extended the lead to 3-1 for the Bruins after one.
A Period to Forget
While the Bolts started with a very immediate marker, all in all this would not have been one of Head Coach Jon Cooper's favorite periods of hockey. The shots were tallied at 20-8 in favor of Boston after 20.
That number marked the highest shot-total in a period for the Bruins all season, matching one other occasion where they cracked the 20-shot plateau.
Overall, the Bolts were too loose defensively, too slow to pucks, and generating far less chances than their fans have been accustomed to during a 16-1-1 stretch of play.
They needed a response to start the second at Raymond James, and ideally, the next goal on the scoreboard, too.
Where to Begin
The second period was... something. It contained five goals, countless swings in game flow, three Lightning power play goals, and, yes, a goalie fight. The first fight of Andrei Vasilevskiy's career came with just under nine minutes left in a second period that had seen Boston make it 5-1.
Before that point, though, Oliver Bjorkstrand got one back to make it a 5-2 contest.
Then, the blockers and gloves hit the ice, as Swayman and Vasilevskiy threw hands.
Swayman was challenged by The Big Cat after going hard after Brandon Hagel after a whistle. The two let their masks hit the Raymond James ice in a rare goalie fight.
Back to the (Unrelenting) Action
From that point on, the Bruins just couldn't stay out of the box, taking, among others, an interference call and a delay of game infraction. Gifted life via their man-advantage, the Lightning cashed in, big time.
First, it was a Darren Raddysh 96-mile-per-hour blast that found twine on the PP.
Raddysh's stellar season continued, as did the prowess of the Bolts' power play. It was next a net-front Nick Paul who all of a sudden made it a 5-4 hockey game.
Tampa Bay had scored three goals in the final half of the period.
They also put 22 shots on net, leading 30-29 after 40 minutes. A big factor in the comeback bid's beginning was the 5-on-3 time. Several of Boston's penalties overlapped. That gave the Lightning ample time and room to cap off an absolutely insane period in style.
The Bruins led 5-4 entering a highly anticipated third period. Boston had not blown a two-goal lead and lost a game all season entering Stadium Series action.
Bolts Break Through Despite Low-Event Start to Third
After a wild second frame, things calmed down substantially in the third. Boston was looking to lock down defensively and keep the Lightning off the board.
Nikita Kucherov had other ideas.
86 was able to take a one-timer right in his wheelhouse and continue his excellent night. Already with three assists, he blew one past Swayman to make it a 5-5 hockey game.
Just like that, Tampa Bay was on the cusp of history. They'd never come back from a four-goal deficit to win a game in the history of the franchise. Doing so? That would require extra time.
Penalty Call Saves Bolts on Potential B's Break
It looked for a moment like David Pastrnak might have ended the game, beating Vasilevskiy off the rush. A whistle, though, sounded behind the play, putting Pastrnak in the box for a slash.
Instead of game over, it was a Tampa power play.
This One Needs a Shootout
Despite several looks on the man-advantage for the Bolts, a Nikita Kucherov breakaway, and a goalpost all in overtime, this instant classic needed a shootout to decide the winner.
The question then became: which goaltender would bat an eye? In the end, it was Swayman, who was the lone goalie beaten on a Jake Guentzel roof job.
The Pastrnak miss, in fitting fashion for a wild affair, rang the post behind Vasilevskiy.
With that, the Bolts had done it. They had won a game after trailing by four goals for the first time. It's a big win for the Lightning, who continue to "munch points" in the Atlantic division. The Lightning also improved to 2-0 all-time in outdoor games, following up a previous win over the Nashville Predators outside.
Three Stars of the Game
Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
Jeremy Swayman (BOS)
Jake Guentzel (TBL)
Up Next
The Bolts have a pair of games remaining before the Olympic break, beginning with a home date with the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 at Benchmark Tuesday night. Lastly, they host the Panthers on Thursday evening.
Both puck drops are set for 7:30 p.m.
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