Lightning Fight Through Injuries and Score Big Road Win in Columbus.
By Phil Hanney | Thunderstruck Sports
Brandon Hagel netted two goals and had an assist for the second straight game as the top players stepped up for Tampa Bay to get the 3 - 1 victory in Columbus on Thursday night. With only 20 skaters available for Jon Cooper in the second game of a road back-to-back the Lightning bench boss dressed 11 forwards and 7 defensemen with Cirelli, Gourde and Cernak out along with Point missing his second game since being put on IR. It was Jake Guentzel's 700th career game and he added a goal and an assist to cement the Lightning victory and secure 6 of 8 points on the road trip.
Hildeby Ready from the Start
Just like in Buffalo the night before, the home team came out ready to play as Columbus had consistent pressure early and Dennis Hildeby, in net for Andre Vasilievski, was asked to make some big saves early. The first three minutes of the game were spent in the Lightning zone as Columbus controlled the puck and got a couple of shots in from the perimeter. But the Lightning did a good job of keeping the Blue Jackets to the outside and after some perhaps questionable contact from Mathieu Olivier on Hildeby in the crease, the Lightning netminder made another early save to keep the game at zero-zero.
Lightning Respond Quickly
Columbus put on the pressure early, but the Lightning weathered the storm and responded on a quick breakout play. Charle-Edouard D'Stous got a shot on Columbus netminder Jet Greaves thanks to a pass from Nikita Kucherov and Hagel was there to put in the rebound. Picking up where he left off in Buffalo the night before, Brandon put the Lightning up 1- 0 at 2:98 of the first period.
Near Miss and Columbus Power Play
Near the halfway mark of the first period, Columbus created a chance in the Lightning zone and Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuck rang a puck of the crossbar as Hildeby was blessed by the goalie's best friend. However, just a couple of minutes later, an errant stick along the boards from Ilya Micheyev put the home team on the power play. It took just 19 seconds for the Blue Jackets to pot the equalizer with a Matthew Knies tip in from right in front of Hildeby on pass from Kent Johnson.
The Gloves Hit the Ice
With the game now tied at 1 goal apiece, things were about to get kicked up a notch or two with back-to-back fights. Following the Columbus power play goal, Lightning bruiser Scott Sabourin and NHL heavyweight Olivier squared off at the ensuing puck drop for one humdinger of a bout. Both men a bit bloodied, play resumed only to have Jeffery Viel of the Lightning immediately drop the gloves with Ryan Lombard of the Blue Jackets. Both benches were fired up after the two tilts but aside from a moment of Hildeby doing his best Dominik Hasek, the 2nd period ended without much other excitement, tied at 1 a piece.
Back & Forth Play and a Disallowed Goal
The second period was a pretty back and forth affair with both sides getting some chances. Greaves made a stellar glove save on Brandon Hagel at around the 5:oo mark followed by Hildeby making a great kick save and thwarting a subsequent wraparound attempt on the other end. Following a wicked post shot from Kucherov, Columbus took advantage of a broken JJ Moser stick and put the pressure on the Lightning but the gritty board play from Tampa kept the score even. Then, at 15:28 of the period, Hagel tipped a Kucherov shot that got passed Greaves and put the Lightning up 2-1. However, after review, it was determined that the puck had been played by a high stick. The goal was disallowed and the period ended with the score still tied at 1-1.
Zip Line, Stars Shine, Net Twine
The first two periods started out all Columbus. The third period not so much. The newly coined Zip Line from Tampa (Zegmus Girgensons, Pontus Holmberg, Ilya Micheyev) put the pedal to the medal and the Lightning took the lead back just one minute, six seconds into the third frame. With the Zip Line putting on the pressure, the Lightning got a change in on the fly and Jake Guentzel squeezed one by Greaves on a Kucherov-like pass from Hagel on the boards.
Columbus pushed back around the 7:00 mark with the Jackets putting another puck off the post and forcing Hildeby to make what was probably his biggest save of the game. However, as the Lightning have been doing recently, the response was quick and lethal. Less than a minute later, Hagel put in his second of the game from a crazy angle down low thanks to a vintage Kucherov feed from the top of the zone.
Penalty Kill and Empty Net
At 10:43 of the third, Hagel got called for a two-minute penalty on a hooking call. This time the Lightning penalty kill answered the bell and held Columbus to zero shots on goal. The Blue Jackets pulled Greaves with just over 4:00 left but the Lightning did their job and the final horn sounded with the scoreboard reading 3-1 in favor of Tampa Bay, securing a third win on the road trip and gaining 6 of 8 available points.
My Three Stars of the Game
3 - Jake Guentzel - Game Winning goal and one assist in his 700th game.
2 - Dennis Hildeby - Stopped 28 of 29 shots and had some key timely saves.
1 - Brandon Hagel - Second straight game with 2 goals. Straight motor.
Up Next
The Lightning return home to Benchmark International Arena to face the Detroit Red Wings this Saturday, November 14th kicking off a 6-game home stand and a stretch where 7 of the next 9 games are against Atlantic Division opponents.
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