The Lightning thoroughly dominated action in the first two periods. They outshot Nashville, 27-12, over the first 40 minutes. Their tight structure helped them spend very little time in their own end. They generated numerous scoring opportunities while greatly limiting the number of opposition chances. Anthony Cirelli scored twice and the Lightning took a 2-0 lead into the second intermission. But if not for the play of Pekka Rinne (who was similarly strong in his start against the Lightning on January 30 at Amalie Arena), the Lightning lead after 40 minutes might have been four or five goals.
Thanks to the Lightning's stout team defense, the Predators didn't have much going against McElhinney until the third period. Nashville's best chance before the final frame came during a power play late in the middle stanza. McElhinney stopped an initial shot from Filip Forsberg before Ryan McDonagh, standing deep in the crease, blocked Erik Haula's rebound attempt.
The final period unfolded differently than the first two. The Preds had more puck possession in the third than they likely had in the first two periods combined. Back-to-back Nashville power plays in the first half of the period helped the Predators find some rhythm to their game. They posted five shots on goal during those two man-advantage opportunities. The last of those went in the net - Dante Fabbro's slap shot beat a screened McElhinney.
But the Predators couldn't net the equalizer. Nashville had proven to be quite proficient at scoring sixth-attacker goals during the past couple of weeks. The Predators netted one of those in the January 30th game against the Lightning and almost netted a second (which would have tied the game) in the closing seconds. On February 4th against Florida, the Preds did score two sixth-attacker goals, rallying from a 5-3 deficit and eventually winning in OT. But in this contest, moments after Rinne went to the bench for the extra attacker, Blake Coleman stole the puck in the offensive end and finished into the empty net with 1:38 remaining. When play resumed, the Preds again pulled Rinne and applied heavy pressure in the closing minute. McElhinney recorded three saves in the final 20 seconds, including a spectacular stop on Forsberg. During a goalmouth scramble, McElhinney was down at one side of the crease, facing the net. Forsberg took his shot from point-blank range. McElhinney swung his blocker arm back and knocked the puck off the goal line. With just over a second remaining, Steven Stamkos finished the scoring with a second Lightning empty-netter.
Certainly, McElhinney's performance, his first in almost a year, was a big storyline. But so was how well the Lightning played - in all three zones - for the majority of the game.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Anthony Cirelli - Lightning. Two goals. 9-4 on face-offs.
2. Curtis McElhinney - Lightning. 23 saves.
3. Pekka Rinne - Predators. 31 saves.
