Lightning on Point in defeating Devils

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
November 5, 2016

TAMPA, Fla. – Chance after chance, shot after shot, Lightning rookie Brayden Point found himself empty in the goal column.

Even a sensational spin move in the slot by Point was turned aside on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

But Point finally found his just reward in a less than conventional manner to record his first career goal helping Tampa Bay to a 4-1 victory against the Devils at Amalie Arena.

Point, who is third on the team in shots on goal, got a deflection in the slot area on a shot from Nikita Kucherov that fluttered past New Jersey goaltender Corey Schneider at 5:01 of the third period.

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“That’s how it is, and I was just saying with the guys before that it was going to take a lucky one to get going and tonight it did,’’ Point said.

Lightning rookie Brayden Point speaks after scoring his first career NHL goal

The bench erupted when the goal went in as Point raised both his hands skyward and looked to the rafters in relief.

“You talk about a kid that deserved a goal, nobody deserved a goal more than him,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “Hopefully this just opens the floodgates for him because he’s been ironclad for us. For somebody just coming in to the league, I’m sure people look at the stat sheet and see he has no goals and a (few) assists, but he has made such a positive impact on our team. You watch him on the ice and more often than not you are walking back to the room and saying he had no points, but he arguably was our best player.

“You could just see when he scored the relief written all over his face. I was really excited for him . . . the whole team was.’’

It also proved to be a key goal for the Lightning to make it a two-goal lead for Tampa Bay early in the third and provide some breathing room as the Lightning once again rallied for a victory.

The Devils held a 1-0 lead after the first period on Damon Severson’s goal at the 14:39 mark on a puck that popped out to the slot where Severson was able to wire the puck past Ben Bishop. It marked the eighth time in 12 games Tampa Bay allowed the opening goal and sixth time the Lightning trailed after the first period.

But as they have proven in the early stages of the season, early deficits can be overcome when Tampa Bay starts to skate and impose their style of play on the game.

That comeback this time started when Victor Hedman fired a puck from along the boards to an open Brian Boyle at the right circle to tie the game at 2:25. Hedman would then put Tampa Bay in front at 8:27 with is third goal of the season.

Kucherov capped the scoring as he was sent up ice on an outlet pass from Steven Stamkos with 5:46 left in the third period.

“As soon as we start playing our game, play fast defensively and transition from D to offense, it builds confidence,’’ Kucherov said. “You can see on the bench, we are a live bench and every line just picks it up from there.’’

Postgame notes: Hedman moved in to seventh place on the franchise games played list with his 483rd game. … Hedman also tied Dan Boyle for most assists by a defenseman in franchise history with 187, which also ties him for seventh on the franchise all-time list. … Hedman recorded the 51st multi-point game of his career. … Tampa Bay improved to 7-0-1 this season when scoring three or more goals and 42-3-4 over the past two seasons. … RW J.T. Brown recorded his first assist of the season on Boyle’s second-period goal.

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