Burns: 3 Things we learned from a rally in the Motor City

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recorded victories just about every way possible in reaching a franchise high-tying 54 regular season wins.
Thursday's win in Detroit was another example. The Lightning fell behind 3-0 early in the second period, kept working to find their way back in the game, got on the scoreboard on Steven Stamkos' power-play goal later in the second period then scored four more consecutive goals in the third period to stun the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena for a 5-4 win.

Tampa Bay has now swept Detroit three-straight seasons and owns a 15-game regular season win streak against the Red Wings, the longest win streak against a single franchise in Lightning history and the longest win streak in NHL history against the Red Wings franchise.
The Bolts picked up their 25th road win of the season, tying another franchise record for road victories set last season.
We shouldn't be surprised by what this Lightning team continues to accomplish in 2018-19.
But even Thursday's rally had most of us scratching our heads in disbelief.
How the Lightning were able to pull off the come-from-behind victory in Three Things from another win over the Wings.

1. STAMKOS RECORD-TYING GOAL IGNITES COMEBACK
Vincent Lecavalier has his No. 4 hanging in the AMALIE Arena rafters, the second player in franchise history to have his number retired.
Steven Stamkos will undoubtedly join Lecavalier once his career is finished.
Which hopefully is still a long way away.
Stamkos cemented his legendary status in Tampa Bay folklore on Thursday with his second period power-play goal, his 383rd career goal, moving him into a tie with Lecavalier for most goals in Lightning franchise history.
Stamkos accomplished the feat in 302 fewer games than Lecavalier.
"To get a chance to play with him and assist on some of those goals and he assisted on I'm sure a lot of mine, so that's pretty cool," Stamkos said about the accomplishment. "Vinny's a world-class guy. You come into the organization the way I did and have guys like him and Marty there to really take me under their wing, you don't dream of being an all-time goal leader for a franchise when you're a kid, you dream of playing the game in the NHL. Pretty cool feeling. I'm sure it'll process a little later."
Stamkos' goal wasn't just important in the historical sense, but it sparked the Lightning in their comeback win over the Red Wings. Stamkos got the Bolts on the board at 12:57 of the second period, cutting their deficit to two.
With momentum on their side heading into the third, the Lightning took over the game, nudging in front 4-3 less than nine minutes into the final frame.
"You could tell, we got that one goal and there was some life," Stamkos said. "It just felt in the third we were going to keep coming at them in waves, and we did."
But it all started with Stamkos' historic goal, which was the catalyst for the Bolts' rally. Stamkos will have 11 more regular season games to overtake Lecavalier for the franchise goal lead this season, starting with Saturday's home game against the Washington Capitals, a rematch of last season's seven-game Eastern Conference Final.
"That's the thing I'm excited about is to keep rolling with this group that we have," Stamkos said. "For me, it's just crazy to think when you have a record like that it means that you've been around for a long time, and sometimes it just doesn't feel that way. It's been almost 11 complete years. It's crazy. A lot of reminiscing for sure, a lot of thanks to the teammates and coaches I've had over the year and family and friends that have supported me. It's just one of those moments where you take a step back and just reflect on the positive things and some of the negative ones you had to overcome along the way and it just makes it that much sweeter."

2. NO PANIC
Despite trailing 2-0 after the first period and 3-0 early in the second, the Lightning never felt Thursday's game was getting away from them.
Maybe that stems from the belief this team possesses, a well-earned belief based on previous results, they can overcome any obstacle.
It's not that they were playing poorly in Detroit early. There were a few too many turnovers, particularly at the blue line, that led to odd-man rushes the other way for the Red Wings. And Tampa Bay's passing was atrocious in the early going, pucks sent into the skates of their recipient, resulting in a stagnating Lightning offense.
But they were getting chances as the game progressed, particularly late in the first period after falling behind by two goals. And those opportunities continued in the second period, despite giving up a third goal to go down 3-0.
The Lightning knew if they could just get one goal, more would follow. And against a Detroit team that had lost 12 of its last 13 games entering Thursday's game, the Red Wings would likely lose their belief once the Lightning comeback started.
Stamkos started the onslaught with his power-play goal, where he was left wide open in the left circle with time and space and was able to bury his shot at the near post.
Brayden Point capped a plethora of chances to start the third playing on a line with Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov to get the Lightning closer at 3-2. Kucherov tied the game 3-3 at 8:24 on a goal that came four seconds into a power play, Stamkos winning the offensive-zone face-off to Point in the slot, who pushed the puck to Victor Hedman at the blue line, who swung the puck over to Kucherov in his wheelhouse to bury.
Just 26 seconds after Kucherov tied the game, Tyler Johnson put the Lightning ahead for good with his tip of Erik Cernak's shot from the point.
"I think it's kind of a quiet calm," Johnson said of the Bolts' resiliency. "I think we know we're never out of a game. We know we can come back. We know we have the skill. We have a confidence, it's just a matter of time. We just had to play the way that we know we can play. We got some breaks, and some guys stepped up."
Stamkos said the team used a 3-0 loss to Minnesota a week earlier as "ammunition" to rally in Detroit. The Lightning didn't have the fight to get back into the Minnesota game. They remembered that feeling and wouldn't let the Detroit game get away from them.
"It was a good win for a group that there's a lot of expectations on us coming in every game and you get behind and you still find a way," Stamkos said. "It's the sign of a good team."

3. KUCHEROV CONTINUES CLIMBING NHL LEADERBOARD
It's almost a surprise when Nikita Kucherov doesn't have multiple points in a game this season.
Kucherov continued to extend his franchise record for single season scoring well past the 108-point mark it started at this season, registering two goals and two assists in Detroit for a four-point night and 115 points on the season.
Kucherov now is the first NHL player to reach 115 points since Sidney Crosby tallied 120 points in 2006-07.
"He's an unbelievable player," Johnson said. "He's a competitor. He's a guy that can kind of just carry the team and carry us, and it's awesome that he's on our team."
Kucherov registered his 34th multi-point game of the season, tops in the NHL. Kucherov's 34 multi-point games are the most since Alex Ovechkin registered 35 in 2009-10.
Remember: Kucherov still has 11 regular season games to continue adding to his totals. At his current rate, the Russian right wing is on pace to put up a whopping 133 points this season, the most the NHL has seen since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr tallied 161 points and 149 points, respectively, in 1995-96.
Kucherov extended his lead for the Art Ross Trophy and now owns a 15-point advantage over second place Connor McDavid. Kucherov is aiming to win the third Art Ross Trophy in Lightning franchise history and become the second Tampa Bay player to do so, joining Martin St. Louis, who won the award in 2003-04 and 2012-13.
Kucherov is also making a pretty strong case for the Hart Memorial Trophy given to the League's most valuable player. Even if he doesn't record another point all season, it'll be hard to deny Kucherov of the award considering the historic numbers he's totaling this season.