Budding rivalry has bizarre ending as Bolts win third straight

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
October 18, 2016

TAMPA, Fl. – Early season matchups between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers tend to generate as much excitement as nap time in kindergarten class.

But times are changing and the third game of the season for both teams provided some October buzz with both teams entering with perfect 2-0 records in a season where expectations on both franchises are at a high level.

The billing lived up to expectations in a back-and-forth game eventually won 4-3 in a shootout by Tampa Bay, which starts the season with a 3-0 record for the second consecutive season and fifth time in franchise history.

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Rookie Brayden Point scored the shootout deciding goal in the sixth round while Steven Stamkos had the tying goal from a wide angle with 5.5 seconds left in regulation to send the game in to overtime.

“It’s obviously a shot that’s not going to go in a lot,’’ Stamkos said of the sharp angle just above the goal line. “It’s something that you (play) around with before and after practice where you shoot at those sharp angles. Eventually, you’re going to catch one and obviously it was nice to see that go in.’’

Alex Killorn scored for the third consecutive game, Ondrej Palat notched his first of the season while Ben Bishop stopped 28 shots and five of six shootout attempts to pick up the victory.

After rallying for victory in the first two games of the season, Tampa Bay had to do so once again, this time on two occasions.

Following a scoreless first period, Florida took the first lead on a shorthanded goal from Colton Sceviour 2:38 in to the second period.

Goals from Killorn and Palat, however, put the Lightning ahead after two periods as Tampa Bay controlled play for most of the middle frame.

“I felt we deserved to have the lead after two, I did,’’ Cooper said. “I’m not so sure I felt we deserved to have the lead after three.’’

That’s because the tide changed quickly in the third period as the Panthers started to dictate the pace of play from the start of period and put Tampa Bay back on its heels. Florida outshot the Lightning 13-6 in the final frame, tying the game on Vincent Trocheck’s goal at 5:26 before taking a 3-2 lead with Mike Matheson’s first career goal on a delayed call with 4:18 left in the game.

But the Lightning, which rallied from behind down by two goals in the first two games, showed that same resilient approach in the final minutes of the game. The payoff came when Victor Hedman sent a pass from the point down lot to Stamkos along the goal line. The brilliance of Stamkos was display as instead of wiring a one-timer, the Lightning captain sort of scooped a one-timer, showing soft hands, to elevate the puck in to the top portion of the net as James Reimer was at the top of his crease with Killorn parked in front of the Florida goaltender.

“We had to lean on a guy that’s done that before to us to tie the game because one of the benefits of having the lead is we were never that far behind,’’ Cooper said. “It just takes one shot to tie it and that’s what happened.’’

After failing to register a shot on goal in overtime, which included a full two-minute, 4-on-3 power play for the Tampa Bay, the shootout had a bit of controversy as after Jonathan Drouin converted his chance in the third round, Trocheck lost control of the puck near the crease on his attempt but raced off to his right to collect the puck and shoot it in to the net after Bishop all but gave up on the play.

The goal was waived off by the on-ice officials, but after a video review, it was determined the puck was still moving in a forward motion and the call was overturned, extending the shootout, which eventually made it to the sixth round where Point came in with speed and beat Reimer with a wrist shot to the stick side. Bishop stopped Aaron Ekblad to lift the Lightning to the victory, providing Point with the game-deciding goal in his first career shootout attempt in the NHL.

“I just tried to make the best of it,’’ Point said. “I just tried to relax. For sure, there were nerves. It was the first time I have ever done that in this league, so I was a little bit nervous but I just tried to make the best of it.’’

Postgame notes: Before the game the Lightning recognized former captain and all-time franchise leading goal scorer Vinny Lecavalier (383) in a pregame ceremony. … Tampa Bay started the season 3-0 for the second consecutive season and fifth time in franchise history. … The Lightning announced the 69th consecutive sellout at Amalie Arena, including the playoffs. … Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Lightning and Panthers have played a game decided in overtime or a shootout 13 times in 30 meetings while 18 of those meetings have been decided by one goal.

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