Tampa Bay Lightning victory is totally Koekkoek

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
October 12, 2017

TAMPA – The Lightning game was completely Koekkoek on Thursday.

There was also Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman, Killorn and Vasilevskiy, too.

All of them, plus a few more, made big contributions to Tampa Bay’s 5-4 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Amalie Arena, led by a two-goal effort from defenseman Slater Koekkoek, who record his first and second career goals in the NHL.

Steve Stamkos notched his first goal of the season – and first since Nov. 15 of last season – Nikita Kucherov scored for the fourth consecutive game, Alex Killorn set a career high with four assists while Victor Hedman scored his first of the season with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was key in net, stopping 36 shots, including a potential game-tying goal in the third period as Jake Guentzel came in on a breakaway.

It all added up to one crazy game, the type that tends to send coaches looking for the textbook on how to play defense.

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A short time ago, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock was asked about his high-scoring, sometimes free-wheeling Maple Leafs team, who were off to a strong start. His response? “It’s fun, isn’t it? But it’s dumb.’’

That’s kind of how Thursday’s felt. Not that it’s a bad thing, unless you are a coach. That’s because the type of game that unfolded at Amalie Arena between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference was, dare I say, fun to watch.

Two teams than know how to play fast, know how to be creative and know how to score put on a show, even if it’s not the formula the coaching staff put together to earn a victory.

”We don’t want to be a team that trades chance-for-chance because you can’t control your destiny if you play that way,’’ Penguins coach, and former Lightning assistant coach, Mike Sullivan said. “You’ll win some games but you are going to lose some, too. We have to be more of a team that controls territory, that controls the momentum that has more of a defensive conscience in mind so that we have a better opportunity to control the outcome.’’

In other words, slow the game down, play more in control. It’s okay to win a game 2-1, because that’s a controlled game. The players know that, they understand it, but sometimes the game just gets away and the control style of game opens up to the point of a controlled chaos on the ice.

That’s how it played out on Thursday, particularly in the later stages of the game as both teams traded chances, offering blows and counter blows.

”It did (open up) and it’s two teams that probably play pretty similar styles,’’ Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “I didn’t mind our game (because) the majority of the chances we gave up in the first two periods came while they were on the power play. At five-on-five, we were going fine. It’s just in the third period, I think we just tried to protect the lead a little bit and took our foot off the gas and our offensive zone time was not where it was in the first two periods and all of a sudden we were feeding their attack.’’

Early in the game, it was the Lightning on the attack and finding a reward. Koekkoek, coming off a game on Monday against Washington in which he dressed as the seventh defenseman and played just over three minutes of ice time on six shifts, stepped in to a deflected puck above the left circle and sent a shot past Antti Niemi for his first career goal.

”Last game was tough against Washington. I’m happy we got the win but sitting there is not always easy,’’ Koekkoek said. “I was just happy to get somewhat of a regular shift and be a part of shutting them down late in the game.’’

Hedman’s goal with 0.1 seconds left on the clock in the first period game Tampa Bay momentum heading in to the second and Stamkos – who missed most of last season with a knee injury – provided a two-goal lead early in the second for his first goal of the season and first since Nov. 15, 2016, the night he was injured in Detroit last season.

”I knew it was a matter of time so I wasn’t losing any sleep over it,” said Stamkos, who tied Vinny Lecavalier on the all-time franchise for power play goals with 112. “I’m just happy to be playing hockey again and glad to be part of some wins here.’’

Kucherov notched his fourth of his season while Koekkoek added his second of the game, finishing off a 3-on-1 after coming out of the penalty box, slipping a backhand under the pads of Niemi late int he second.

”I was joking that if me, [Tyler] Johnson and Killorn were on a 3-on-1, who would want the puck and I would probably be your last option,’’ Koekkoek said. “I was looking for [Johnson] back door but the goalie was right on me so a little fake and then he opened up his five hole.’’

Then in the third, the game really opened up as the Penguins pressed, getting to within a goal on Matt Hunwick’s rebound goal. That’s when Vasilevskiy made his mark on the game, facing down a Jake Guentzel breakaway chance and keeping the puck out with a stick save between the pads.

It all capped off a wild, crazy – and yes, Koekkoek – kind of a game.

Postgame notes:. Killorn is the first Lightning player to record a four-assist game since Tyler Johnson on Oct. 28, 2014, against the Phoenix Coyotes. … C Cedric Paquette missed the game with a lower body injury, but participated in an optional morning skate on Thursday. … Tampa Bay scratched RW J.T. Brown and D Andrej Sustr. … Rookie D Mikhail Sergachev played just 5:22 of ice time and took just three shifts after the first period. … Tampa Bay has scored a power play goal in all four games this season. … The Lighting have scored four or more goals in each game to start the year.

My three stars:
1.Lightning D Slater Koekkoek – First two NHL goals, plus-one, three shots

2.Lightning LW Alex Killorn – Career high four assists, plus-1

3.Lightning D Victor Hedman – Goal, nine shot attempts, 28:17 of ice time

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