Rautiainen, Mercuri Lead Lightning to OT Win Over Florida
Updated: 4 hours ago
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
Benjamin Rautiainen scored a power play goal, then scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning came back to defeat the Florida Panthers, 3-2. Lucas Mercuri added a goal in his first appearance with the Bolts.
Mercuri scored at the 8:50 mark of the first period in his only preseason appearance. Jeff Viel fought off Florida's Alexander Petrovic to win the puck along the boards and pass it to Nicolas Abruzzese behind the Panthers' net.
Abruzzese found Mercuri in the slot, and he snapped it past goalie Akira Schmid to put the Lightning up 1-0.
"It's nice to get it early, obviously," Mercuri said. "I mean, what a play by Z (Max Crozier) and 'Vieler' just holding the puck along the wall, just outmatching the guy, outworking him, and that's what we're about here."
"It was nice ot get one in."
The 24-year-old was injured during the rookie showcase two weeks ago and was cleared to play only this morning.
"I worked really hard in the summer," Mercuri said. "So when that (the injury) happened in the rookie tournament, it was a couple of dark nights, but it was all right."
"A lot of the boys supported me, and the staff here was awesome, just getting me back with rehab and getting me back healthy. I have a really good support system, so I’m really grateful for that.”
Panthers Gain the Lead
Florida responded late in the first period when Sandis Vilmanis scored on a sloppy turnover by Crozier at 17:58. Crozier couldn't clear the puck from the Lightning zone, allowing Vilmanis to get one past Bolts goalie Dennis Hildeby to tie the game.
The goal was the Panthers forward's second against the Lightning in 48 hours, scoring an empty-netter that sealed Thursday's win at Benchmark International Arena.
Matvei Suravev gave the Panthers the lead quickly at the 2:03 mark of the second period when his shot from near the blue line found the back of the net.
Just as the Lightning core group did on Thursday, Tampa Bay refused to give up, fighting with scrappy tenacity that finally paid off when Rautiainen stepped up in the third period.
Rautiainen Leads the Comeback
The Lightning Power Play has been nonexistent during the preseason, and it was more of the same on Saturday night. Tampa Bay was 0-for-4 on the power play when Kai Schmidt went off for tripping Mercuri at the 12:21 mark. Then things changed when it mattered most.
Rautiainen scored on a 6-on-4 delayed penalty when Gage Goncalves found him on the backdoor with a precision pass, tying the game at two.
Conor Geekie continued his stellar preseason when he found Goncalves to Schmid's left with a nice pass. Goncalves drew the four Panthers to him, leaving Rautiainen alone long enough to send the game to overtime.
"Special teams win games," Mercuri said. "So it was great for the guys to get one in there."
Both teams had excellent chances to win in overtime; however, things were eventually settled with a shootout.
And the shootout became the Benjamin Rautiainen Show.
After successful shootout goals by Vilmanis and Pontus Holmberg in round one, both Gracyn Sawchyn and Maxim Groshev missed. Uvis Baliniski mishandled and lost the puck on his attempt in round three, and Rautiainen had his opportunity.
The young Finn drove toward Schmid's glove side and purposely popped the puck off his own skate to distract the Panthers goalie enough to power a wrist shot over Schmid's stick for the 3-2 win.
“Actually, I’ve never done that one," Rautiainen said of his game-winning goal. "It just came to my mind, and I tried it, and it went in. I’m happy.”
“I actually have seen Barkov do this move, just pass the puck to his skate," Rautiainen continued. "So I tried to copy him in his home building. It was nice that he went in….I got it in my mind on the bench and tried to do it. I’ve never done that before, so it was my first time."
Rautiainen's efforts did not go unnoticed by his teammates.
“His poise is just incredible," Viel said. "The way he can stick with the puck and make plays and the way he skates too, it’s very nice to see from a young guy.”
"I mean, Benji, unreal, unreal move," Mercuri said. "He's a really good player, confident, tied it up on the power play."
"There was lots of talk he had some sick moves, but I didn't know that was it," Cooper said. "But maybe that wasn't it, and maybe he's got more in his toolbox than I knew. He put it in the net, and I think any puck that goes in the net is a good move."
As Training Camp Ends, Final Roster Decisions Need to Be Made
Now that the Lightning have wrapped up their final preseason game with a win to finish a grueling training camp, the organization needs to trim the roster to 23 players by Monday to start the regular season.
Between the core players returning to the team, those added through free agency this summer, and prospects coming into their own the past two weeks, Bolts coach Jon Cooper and his staff have decisions to make.
“I told the guys this postgame: This is the most competitive camp we've had in quite some time since I've been here," Cooper said Saturday night. "And it was a pleasure to be around all of the kids and guys who aren't with us anymore."
With a lack of high draft picks in the past few seasons, Cooper complimented the front office for the level of talent they brought into camp this month.
"This was a different camp, and it was impressive of some of the players that Julien and our scouting staff have brought in here without wheeling around some high picks that we haven't had."
With rosters due to the league office Monday, players such as Rautianen, Geekie, Sam O'Reilly and others will be waiting to hear about their fate.
"It’s, like I said, a competitive camp and just great human beings, and it was a pleasure to be with these kids," Cooper said. "That's why it's always tough, understanding that not everybody's going to be here. As I told them, they may not be a Bolt today, but they might be a Bolt tomorrow and keep plugging.”
Three Players of the Game
Benjamin Rautiainen, Tampa Bay. One goal in regulation and an amazing game-winner in the shootout to give Tampa Bay the win.
Lucas Mercuri, Tampa Bay. A goal to open the scoring for the Bolts and went 6-of-8 (75%) on faceoffs.
Dennis Hildeby, Tampa Bay. Stopped 20 of 22 shots and performed strongly in the shootout.
Up Next
The Tampa Bay Lightning open the regular season on Thursday, October 1st, against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is at 7 pm.
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