These two factors may have contributed to how the game began. On the very first shift, the Lightning turned the puck over in the neutral zone and the Blue Jackets converted on the ensuing three-on-one rush. Just 21 seconds into the game, Columbus had grabbed the lead.
So it wasn't the best of starts for Tampa Bay. But as the period progressed, the Lightning found their rhythm. And for the majority of the night, the Lightning dictated play.
Overall, the Lightning outshot the Blue Jackets, 37-25. It was a 27-15 edge after the first period. Shot attempts were 62-50 in favor of the Lightning. In all, the Lightning owned more of the puck possession and produced more scoring chances.
The Blue Jackets have struggled to create offense so far this year (they came in - and finished the night - averaging just two goals scored per game). The Lightning did well to limit the amount of time Columbus applied pressure in the offensive zone. While the Jackets did create some chances - including a two-on-zero rush in overtime - those looks were isolated and infrequent.
As the Lightning know well from seeing the Blue Jackets in the playoffs during the past two seasons, Columbus is a structured, disciplined team that defends very well without the puck. But the Lightning were successful in generating scoring opportunities, particularly off the rush. When they were still down 1-0, they produced a handful of odd-man rushes on which they couldn't convert, including two two-on-ones in the first period and a Brayden Point breakaway in the second. They had other close calls, with pucks just missing the sticks of players open in front. But late in the second period, they finally broke through. After the Lightning forced a turnover in the defensive zone, Ryan McDonagh led the charge up ice, shifting around Alexandre Texier in the neutral zone. That created an odd-man rush and a tic-tac-toe passing sequence from Yanni Gourde to McDonagh to Blake Coleman at the side of the net resulted in a Coleman tap-in. The assist was McDonagh's 300th career point. Just over a minute later, McDonagh would collect another point. Once again, he jumped up in the play, taking a pass from Anthony Cirelli in the offensive zone and setting up Mathieu Joseph for an open look in the slot. Joseph buried his shot past Joonas Korpisalo and the Lightning had their first lead.
Possession in the third period was more even, largely due to the fact that Columbus received three power play opportunities. The Jackets scored on the first of those and tied the score. But the Lightning killed off the final two, not allowing a shot on goal during those four minutes.
Vasilevskiy was tested three times in the closing minutes of regulation and produced big saves on looks from Bemstrom, Cam Atkinson, and Zach Weresnki. In overtime, he made another stop on Werenski during that aforementioned two-on-zero rush for the Blue Jackets. Moments earlier in OT, Ondrej Palat and Cirelli had almost converted an odd-man rush. But eventually, the Lightning won it. The play began with a Steven Stamkos defensive zone face-off win. Victor Hedman brought the puck to the offensive zone and set up Point, who had established position in front of the net. Point deflected the puck past Korpisalo to help the Lightning bank the extra point.
This was a solid win. The Lightning rallied from an early deficit and skated well to produce plenty of chances. Several key saves from Vasilevskiy and those two important third period penalty kills helped set the stage for Point's overtime heroics.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Bobby "The Chief" Taylor):
1. Brayden Point - Lightning. GWG.
2. Ryan McDonagh - Lightning. Two assists.
3. Oliver Bjorkstrand - Blue Jackets. Goal and assist.
