Bolts Allow Four Unanswered Goals In 3rd Period
The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the third period leading the Ottawa Senators 4-2 on the strength of four unanswered goals. Unfortunately, the momentum shifted in the third period and the Senators flipped the script scoring four unanswered goals of their own to defeat the Bolts 6-4.
The loss ended Tampa Bay’s four game win streak and they fall to 12-4-1 (25-points) on the season. It’s also the first loss to an Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division opponent this season. The Bolts are now 8-1-0 against Eastern Conference teams and 4-1-0 against Atlantic Division opponents.
Mathieu Joseph scored a pair of goals, Victor Hedman, and Braydon Coburn each added a goal for the Lightning.
“It’s a tough loss. I mean I feel like we had control this game the whole time.” Mathieu Joseph said. “One after another they went in and it’s part of I took a penalty there into the stands and it changed the momentum of the game. Something I can’t do in 4-3 games. It’s bad by me and they took advantage and after that we just couldn’t recoup.”
Coach Jon Cooper said the loss was a tough one to swallow adding that it happens in an 82-game season.
“We have to but at the same time you got to look back and learn from our mistakes. Like I said we got a tough road trip, Buffalo is playing great.” Victor Hedman said. “Just got to focus on one game at a time and get ready for another one on Tuesday.”
Matt Duchene, Bobby Ryan, Brady Tkachuk, Colin White, and Ryan Dzingel each scored for Ottawa who improve to 7-7-3 (17-points) on the season. They also draw the season series against Tampa Bay even at 1-1-0.
How It Happened:
Matt Duchene and Bobby Ryan each scored to put the Lightning in an early first period hole. Tampa Bay, who is becoming adept at erasing early leads, began their comeback on a goal by Mathieu Joseph in the first period.
Joseph skated behind the net and fired from the right circle. The shot deflected off a defenseman skate past Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson.
Victor Hedman tied the game a minute into the second period using all 200-feet of the rink to score on a power play. Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up his first assist of the season on the goal.
Braydon Coburn broke the tie scoring in the Bolts third goal midway through the second period.
Mathieu Joseph scored Tampa Bay’s third goal of the second period and fourth unanswered goal to give the Bolts a 4-2 lead.
Brady Tkachuk, Colin White, and Ryan Dzingel scored unanswered goals in the third period to put the Senators on top 5-4. Mark Stone capped the scoring with a power play goal in the waning moments.
Lightning Notes:
- Mathieu Joseph scored the Lightning’s first goal in the first period. Mikhail Sergachev and Braydon Coburn picked up assists.
- Victor Hedman scored a power play goal 39-seconds into the second period to tie the score at 2-2. Andrei Vasilevskiy picked up an assist on the goal.
- It was Vasilevskiy’s first assist this season and fifth in his career. His last assist came back on April 6, 2018 against the Buffalo Sabres.
- Braydon Coburn scored his third goal of the season to put the Bolts up 3-2 in the second period. Alex Killorn and Mathieu Joseph each picked up an assist.
- The goal and assist by Coburn mark his 23rd career multi-point game (regular season) and 26th including the playoffs.
- Mathieu Joseph scored his second goal of the game and fourth in his last four games to put the Bolts up 4-2. Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn picked up assists on the goal.
- The goal for Joseph marks his first multi-goal game of his career. It’s also his first career multi-point game (2-1–3).
- Mikhail Sergachev played in his 100th career NHL game, his 96th with Tampa Bay.
Bolts Injury Notes:
Victor Hedman returned to the lineup after missing the previous seven games. Unfortunately, both Adam Erne and Anton Stralman, both day-to-day with upper body injuries, missed the game.
Up Next For Tampa Bay:Â
After going 2-1-0 on their three game homestand the Lightning head on the road for a four game trip starting Tuesday night at 7:30 against the Buffalo Sabres. They also play the Pittsburgh Penguins (Thursday), Philadelphia Flyers (Saturday), and finish in Nashville against the Predators on Monday.
