The Lightning, who cruised to a 5-1 win over Chicago on Wednesday, saw that pushback from the 'Hawks on Friday. The Blackhawks played a spirited, hungry game. Compared to their Wednesday performance, their forecheck was more effective, they owned considerably more puck possession, and they generated more shots and scoring chances. But similar to Wednesday's game, the Lightning again created a number of dangerous looks themselves. So thanks to a second period surge - which allowed them to build a 3-0 lead - and a couple of third period insurance goals scored off the rush, the Lightning emerged victorious for the second straight game.
The Lightning's ability to score those five goals wasn't the only reason for their triumph. Andrei Vasilevskiy was his usual terrific self. During a busy first period in which he faced 13 Chicago shots, Vasilevskiy kept the visitors off the board. In the closing seconds of the second period, he made a sprawling save on Alex DeBrincat, preserving a 3-2 Lightning lead. And he was perfect in the third, denying 12 more Chicago shots.
The Lightning produced several first period scoring chances of their own, including a breakaway chance for Anthony Cirelli and an open look for Yanni Gourde. But like Vasilevskiy at the other end, Chicago goalie Collin Delia was perfect in the opening frame - he made 10 saves and held the Lightning without a goal. Early in the second, however, Delia and defenseman Duncan Keith got their signals crossed on playing a loose puck in the Chicago end. Steven Stamkos jumped on it behind the Chicago net and centered to Palat in front. Delia stumbled in the crease and Palat buried his shot into a partially open net at 2:25.
That goal sparked the Lightning, who dominated play for the next 11 minutes. Most of the action took place in the Chicago end, where the Lightning forechecked relentlessly. Alex Killorn finished a snap shot from the slot to extend the lead at 4:43 and Blake Coleman crashed the net to put in a rebound at 8:11. But Chicago rallied. DeBrincat converted on a power play at 14:20 and Patrick Kane tallied another goal following a Lightning d-zone turnover less than two minutes later. The Lightning had a few more rush opportunities before the period ended to reestablish a multi-goal lead, but couldn't convert. Then, in the final minute, the 'Hawks received another power play. That set the stage for the Vasilevskiy period-ending save on DeBrincat.
Chicago carried the power play into the third, but the Lightning successfully navigated through that kill, as well as another kill shortly thereafter. As a whole, the Lightning enjoyed less possession time in the third than in either of the first two periods. But they still created looks off the rush. Stamkos had a partial breakaway. Palat and Brayden Point almost converted a rush chance. Eventually, though, the Lightning got their insurance goal. Barclay Goodrow broke out of the defensive zone with a slick move around a Chicago defender. That created an odd-man rush. Goodrow gave the puck to Coleman, who dropped it to Yanni Gourde. Gourde ripped a shot from the high slot past Delia at 13:32. Stamkos would add a final goal off another odd-man rush - he finished a shot from the right circle by wristing the puck into the top of the net.
In the end, it was a much tighter game than Wednesday. But the Lightning used their scoring depth (goals from three different lines), outstanding goaltending (Vasilevskiy finished with 35 saves), and strong third period penalty killing to bank two more points in the standings.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Andrei Vasilevskiy - Lightning. 35 saves.
2. Blake Coleman - Lightning. Goal and assist.
3. Barclay Goodrow - Lightning. Two assists.
