Kucherov, Vasilevskiy lead the way to playoff-esque victory against Ottawa

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 28, 2017

TAMPA, Fla. – Welcome to the playoffs, Tampa Bay Lightning.

Or, at least what is their version of the postseason. And on Monday, after losing Ben Bishop and Brian Boyle in separate trades, the Lightning went out and played like it was their playoffs.

Because it is. And a 5-1 blowout victory against Ottawa is the type of result they are going to need in the final 21 games of the season to have any hope of staying in the race for the postseason.

Nikita Kucherov notched his second career hat trick and recorded his second four-point night in the past three games to lead the charge. Jonathan Drouin set a regular-season personal best with three assists while Victor Hedman finished with two helpers.

And perhaps in the biggest showing of the night, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who assumes the No. 1 role with Bishop now gone, snapped a personal five-game winless streak with a 39-save showing for his first victory since Jan. 24.

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”It’s my first victory in how many months? It’s been very frustrating but today was a step,’’ Vasilevskiy said. “I’m just trying to help our team get some points every game. Right now it’s an important stretch for us and I’m not thinking about anything else.’’

That’s the mentality of the team, as well.

Despite all that has gone on involving the team in the past two days – and what may still happen before Wednesday’s trade deadline – it was all pushed to the side once the game started. The singular focus, as it has been as the Lightning improve to 6-1-2 in the past eight, is on the task at hand. Nothing else matters.

”It’s tough this time of year but as pros you have to push that aside,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “There’s a business side to the game but we’re not changing what we want to do and that’s put the best team on the ice possible to get us into the playoffs. They worked for a game tonight on a team that we’re trying to catch.’’

It was Vaslievskiy keeping them in the game in the first, stopping 14 shots and keeping the deficit at one with the lone Ottawa goal coming on a two-man advantage midway through the first period.

Then in the second, after Brayden Point tied the game 1:39 in to the period, it was the Nikita Kucherov show as the All-Star forward put on a one-time display that would make injured teammate Steven Stamkos proud. Only all three of Kucherov’s goals came from the right circle, hammering three of his seven shots past Mike Condon in successive power plays for a natural hat trick, his first since Oct. 28, 2014, against Arizona, with the final goal coming at the 19:45 mark of the period to send the hats raining from the stands.

”It’s a nice feeling, especially when you realize you are helping your team win,’’ Kucherov said. “And at the same time, it’s been a while since I record a hat trick last time, so it’s special.’’

The four-goal outburst in the second period snuffed out an Ottawa team that played the night before.

And in a feisty matchup that had the feel of playoff style game, Tampa Bay played with an edge, almost with a chip on its shoulder to flaunt an attitude that they have something to prove, even if players are being moved out.

”Everybody understands, it is part of the business,’’ Kucherov said. “For us, we just need to continue playing our game. We have a general manager to take care of it, and our goal is just play hockey. … right now for us, every game is huge, and it was nice to get those two points.’’

Postgame notes:. C Yanni Gourde was a healthy scratch after being called up from Syracuse, along with RW Adam Erne earlier in the day. … C Greg McKregg who was claimed off waivers earlier in the day, arrived at the arena after the game started and unavailable to play. … D Luke Witkowski was a healthy scratch for the sixth consecutive game. …. Tampa Bay recorded a season high 38 minutes in penalties. … D Braydon Coburn celebrated his 32nd birthday with his third goal of the season and fell an assist short of recording a Gordie Howe hat trick. … Tampa Bay has the day off on Tuesday and will return to the ice for Wednesday’s home game against Carolina.

My three stars:
1.Lightning RW Nikita Kucherov – Second career hat trick, assist, seven shots on goal

2.Lightning G Andrei Vasilevskiy – Stopped 29 shots to snap five-game winless stretch

3.Lightning LW Jonathan Drouin – Set a regular season career high with three assists

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