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The Carolina Hurricanes earned their third win in a row tonight, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a shootout.
The Hurricanes were able to open the scoring about eight minutes into the game, with Paul Stastny putting a quick pass over to Seth Jarvis in a good spot, who beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. Carolina didn’t let up after that and went on to outshoot Tampa Bay 15-8 in the frame but couldn’t extend the lead despite some good chances, and the score remained 1-0 Carolina after 20 minutes.
It looked like the Lightning had tied the game on four-minute power play early in the second period off a goal from Vladislav Namestnikov, but it was determined the puck had been kicked in. However, Tampa Bay tied the game for real only a few minutes later, with Ross Colton tipping Mikhail Sergachev’s point shot past Frederik Andersen. Then only a few minutes later, Steven Stamkos came down the wing and put a shot to the net, with Nick Paul redirecting it five-hole on Andresen to give the Lightning the lead. However, the Hurricanes controlled most of the frame, putting 21 shots on net throughout the period. Then with about six minutes to go, Martin Necas tied the game, one-timing a shot past Vasilevskiy on a power play. As the game got chippy though, the Lightning ended up with a two-minute 5-on-3 and Nikita Kucherov beat Andersen with a wrist shot, reinstating the Lightning’s lead through 40 minutes.
Carolina continued to be the better team in the third period, outshooting Tampa Bay 14-4 in the period. Then with only six minutes to go in the frame, the Hurricanes went down on a shorthanded rush and Brady Skjei took a pass from Sebastian Aho to beat Vasilevskiy with a good shot, tying the game again. The Hurricanes continued to have some chances late but couldn’t capitalize and for the third game in a row, Carolina's matchup continued past regulation.
In overtime, the Hurricanes had some opportunities, with Brett Pesce putting a shot off the post. Then for the second game in a row, Carolina had a power play in overtime but couldn't get anything out of it, as the extra frame came to an end with the teams heading to a shootout.
In the shootout, Andersen stopped Stamkos as the first shooter, but Vasilevskiy responded, stopping Brent Burns. Andersen then read Nikita Kucherov well as the third shooter to make a save, but Andrei Svechnikov was stopped by Vasilevskiy. Brayden Point then missed the net on a deke in the third round, but Necas made a similar move and also couldn’t get the puck on net.
As the shotoout continued into the fourth round though, Ross Colton made a quick move and beat Andersen with a nice shot, putting the pressure on Carolina. However, Teuvo Teravainen made a great move to the backhand, beating Vasilevskiy to keep the game going. Brandon Hagel then coudn’t convert as Tampa Bay’s fifth shooter, but Seth Jarvis missed the net on his attempt with a chance to win it for Carolina. Corey Perry then completely whiffed on he puck as the Lightning’s sixth shooter, leaving the door open for Sebastian Aho. As Carolina’s sitxh shooter, Aho came in, slowed down, then made a great move to beat Vasilevskiy, winning the game for Carolina.
It was a great road game for the Hurricanes, really outplaying the Lightning at even strength for most of the game. They outshot Tampa Bay 55-26 and the Lightning really relied on their power play for the bulk of their offense and Vasilevskiy to keep them in the game.
We saw the same forwards contributing offensively, with Martin Necas scoring and Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each picking up assists. While all are off to a great start, it would be really positive to see Teuvo Teavainen and Jeperi Kotkaniemi getting results soon, with both forwards off to slow starts.
Regardless, Carolina put together a really strong effort, battling back to tie the game. They kept pressing throughout the game and never really took their foot off the gas, to get the game to overtime.
With the win, the Hurricanes improve to a 7-2-1 record to start the season. They’ll be right back in action tomorrow, when they host the Buffalo Sabres.
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