The Hurricanes play an aggressive, high-pressure game. As a result, they often spend a lot of time in possession of the puck. But the Lightning, with strong puck management and sound positional play, neutralized Carolina's forecheck. For most of the night, the Lightning broke out of their own zone cleanly - and on the first attempt. Then they forced the Hurricanes to play defense in the Carolina end.
When the Hurricanes did generate scoring chances, Andrei Vasilevskiy turned them aside. He made a key first period stop on a Jordan Martinook partial breakaway, keeping the game scoreless. He also recorded five saves on Carolina's two power plays. (In the last meeting between the teams, a 6-0 Carolina victory, the 'Canes netted four power play goals.)
The Lightning didn't generate a high volume of scoring chances either, but they were able to convert on three of them. On the shift after their one and only power play ended, the Lightning opened the scoring. Nikita Kucherov, while under pressure, fed a puck to Mikhail Sergachev at the center point. Once it reached Sergachev, the 'Canes were caught out of position. Sergechev slid a pass to Steven Stamkos at the bottom of the left circle and Stamkos one-touched the puck between the pads of Pyotr Kochetkov at 5:58 of the second. Later in the frame, the Lightning added to their lead. Off the rush, Brayden Point sped into the offensive zone and set up Stamkos at the left circle. Darren Raddysh went to the front of the net. Jaccob Slavin poked the puck away from Raddysh, but Point collected it at the side of the goal and banked it in off Kochetkov at 14:23.
Point scored a dagger goal at 12:20 of the third when he accepted a perfect lead pass from Stamkos and snapped a right circle shot into the top of the net. The 'Canes pulled Kochetkov for a sixth attacker with over six minutes remaining and generated a couple of good looks before Alex Killorn put the game away with an empty-netter at 15:39.
So the Lightning finished with four goals. But the story of this game was how well they handled the Carolina attack and kept the opposition scoring chance number low. It was an outstanding performance against one of the top teams in the league.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy - Lightning. 31-save shutout
2. Brayden Point - Lightning. Two goals and assist.
3. Steven Stamkos - Lightning. Goal and two assists.
