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National Hockey League
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
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.