Tampa Bay 5, Carolina 4
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Referees:
Gord Dwyer, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen:
Matt MacPherson, Jonny Murray
Attendance:
19092
By Field Level Media
Jake Dotchin netted his third goal of the season with just over 10 minutes left in regulation to break a deadlock and Tyler Johnson's hat-trick tally minutes later served as the game winner as the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed a 5-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday in Tampa.
The Lightning needed both goals to close out the see-saw affair at Amalie Arena, as the visitors nearly completed a comeback in the dying minutes.
Johnson's difference-making marker, a prime example of both his speed and determination, marks the first three-goal game of the season for a Tampa player, even though the high-flying Lightning sit atop the league standings and boast the NHL's most potent attack.
Carolina's Brock McGinn opened the scoring with an early power-play goal, finishing off a tap-in goal while left alone at the doorstep, but it didn't take long to see it would be a wild game.
Victor Hedman evened the score at the midway point of the opening frame, beating Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward with a long wrister off the rush, but Sebastian Aho restored the Carolina lead when he took advantage of a turnover to corral a loose puck and sling a shot past Tampa netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Johnson then joined the fun, first by tying the contest before the first intermission by deflecting a point shot, and then scoring quickly after the break by batting home a second rebound chance while he was falling down to give the hosts a 3-2 edge.
Again, though, a lead couldn't be held. This time it was Carolina answering the challenge when Justin Faulk netted his team's second man-advantage marker just past the midway point.
Faulk also scored late to make it a one-goal game, but it was too little, too late for the Hurricanes (19-15-8), who received a 29-save performance from Ward.
Tampa's Braydon Point collected three assists and Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots for the Lightning (31-9-3).
The Lightning play host to the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The Hurricanes face the Washington Capitals to start a home-and-home series that same night.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| Carolina |
|
Tampa Bay |
|
Justin Faulk 2 |
Points |
Tyler Johnson 3 |
|
Justin Faulk 1 |
Goals |
Tyler Johnson 3 |
|
Teuvo Teravainen 2 |
Assists |
Brayden Point 3 |
|
Justin Faulk 1 |
Power Play Goals |
N/A |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Cam Ward .853 |
Save Percentage |
Andrei Vasilevskiy .875 |
|
Cam Ward 29 |
Saves |
Andrei Vasilevskiy 28 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| Carolina
|
32 |
4 |
2-4 |
0-0 |
0 |
42 |
| Tampa Bay
|
34 |
5 |
0-0 |
2-4 |
8 |
26 |
Upcoming Games
-
Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Calgary. The Lightning have a W/L % of .677 after a win and .833 after a loss.
-
Carolina will play their next game on the road against Washington. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .450 after a win and .455 after a loss.
For more information, contact us