Lightning defeat Senators for 25th win

TAMPA-- The Tampa Bay Lightning scored three tying goals before defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in a shootout at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

Alex Killorn, Yanni Gourde and Vladislav Namestnikov scored for the Lightning (25-7-2), who have won eight of their past nine games. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 18 saves to win his 22nd game.
Nikita Kucherov had two assists and leads the NHL with 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists).
\[WATCH: All Senators vs. Lightning highlights\]
Namestnikov tied it 3-3 at 11:05 of the third period with a rebound off a one-timer by Victor Hedman.
"We fall behind early in the third and time is staring to creep away, it was nice to see Vladdy's line that has done it for us really all year," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "They had a really strong game against [the Vegas Golden Knights, a 4-3 loss Tuesday], and again I thought they had a strong game again tonight and they got rewarded."
Bobby Ryan, Cody Ceci and Derick Brassard scored for the Senators (11-14-8), who led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. Craig Anderson made 35 saves.
"I thought we did a great job of limiting their opportunities and just playing together," Anderson said. "We worked hard and battled for 65 minutes, and if we keep doing that we'll get the results that we need."
Brayden Point scored in the first round of the shootout and Steven Stamkos ended the game by scoring in the third. Ottawa shooters Tom Pyatt and Matt Duchene did not score.

"It's no secret I've struggled in the past in the shootout," Stamkos said. "I have a different approach the last three or four times and it's worked. I'll keep that a secret in case any other goalies are paying attention to this interview."
Brassard gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead at 5:59 of the third period with a power-play goal off a shot by Erik Karlsson.
"It was a good tip by [Brassard]," Karlsson said. "I just tried to get it to the net, and the goalie didn't see it, and when the goalie doesn't see it he usually doesn't stop the puck."

Ceci gave the Senators a 2-1 lead at 14:34 of the second period off a pass from Brassard. Gourde tied it 2-2 at 15:40; Alex Killorn took a shot that went off the boards and onto Cory Conacher's stick near the goal line, where he directed the puck to Gourde for the tip in.
"We got our legs moving in the second," Hedman said. "It was a tough game with two great goaltenders. Happy we got the extra point, and now we want to finish strong and go into the break on a high note."
Ryan was credited for the goal that gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead at 6:31 of the first period. His shot was saved by Vasilevskiy, but Dan Girardi's attempt to clear the puck deflected off Lightning teammate Braydon Coburn and went into the net.

"I think we had a terrific first period. We knew they were going to push back, they are the best team in the League," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "But our penalty kill played great, the power play scored, our goalie played great, Erik had a great game. A lot of positives out of that game, and it's too bad we couldn't hold one of these leads."
The Lightning made it 1-1 at 11:59 of the second period when Kucherov's shot deflected off Johnson's skate and then Killorn's.

Goal of the game

Namestnikov's goal at 11:05 of the third period.

Save of the game

Vasilevskiy's save on Mark Stone during 5-on-3 at 17:30 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Gourde's goal at 15:40 of the second period.

They said it

"I thought we played well. They are one of the best teams in the League and they showed that today. Once we got the lead we got a little too passive and gave them a little bit too much room, and if you give a team like that too much room they are going to make plays." -- Senators captain Erik Karlsson
"The second period when we really tilted the ice, give Anderson credit, he was really kicking everything out, we finally get one and then have a bad sort on the backcheck on the 4-on-4. But you need some depth scoring, and Gourde's line really came through for us there." --Lightning coach Jon Cooper

Need to know

Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf did not play Thursday. He and his wife, actress Elisha Cuthbert, welcomed their first child, Zaphire. ... Hedman had 12 shot attempts with nine on goal, each his NHL career high. ... Ryan took one shift in the third period and did not play the rest of the game.

What's next

Senators: At the Florida Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN360, CITY, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Lightning: Host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-N, NHL.TV)