Kuch! One-Time!

Tampa, Fla. — With Ben Bishop off to the left coast and the ink still wet on the Brian Boyle deal that moved the fan favorite to the Great White North (Toronto eh),  the Lightning needed to focus on the Ottawa Senators.

On a second period natural hat-trick by Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy standing on his cranium making 39 saves, the building was jumping in the second and the Lightning slim playoff hopes stayed alive.  All three of Kucherov’s second period goals came on the power play, one-timers from the right circle… almost instant replays.

But in the first,  if getting off to good start was a key to preserving the playoff life of the Bolts, it would not start well as it looked like the Lightning were on the second game of a back to back. Although a good early chance by Nikita Kucherov was there,  it was all Sens.  Maybe the Kucherov chance should have foreshadowed the second period free for all.

As the second period rolled out it looked like the Lightning have a leg up on the team in their barn on the second game of a back to back.  The Kucherov show had an opening act as Brayden Point wristed one top shelf to get the turn around started.  A no-no no-look clearing attempt by Zach Smith from the corner put it right on the stick of Point who did not waste.

Vasilevskiy was under seige from the opening puck drop when the Senators came flying out of the door literally “peppering,” for lack of a better phase, Andrei Vasilevskiy.  Like a shooting gallery ripping shots.  The Senators that played last night at Florida looked like the team not on the back to back.

Then to add to fire, penalties to Kucherov and then :47 later to Braydon Coburn gave the Senators a 1:13 5 on 3.  Lightning killer, aka Kyle Turris blasted one by Vasilevskiy with :13 left in the 5 on 3.

The first ended with Ottawa up 1-0 which could have been a lot worse as the many of the 14 shots Vasilevskiy stopped were tough ones.

Whatever transpired in the Lightning locker-room during the first intermission led the ice to flipped in the second and the Kucherov heroics were on.

If tonight’s game does nothing else but keep the post Bishop/Boyle days playoff alive it’s a reason for short celebration as the Carolina Hurricanes will be a the arena Wednesday as March hockey faces off. Note a special 7pm start time.

1st Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	OTT	TB
6:26		Kyle Turris (22) (Power Play) Assists: Mike Hoffman, Erik Karlsson	1	0
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
4:39		Nikita Kucherov: 2 Minutes for Tripping Ryan Dzingel
5:26		Braydon Coburn: 2 Minutes for High-sticking Zack Smith
18:12		Adam Erne: 2 Minutes for Boarding Ryan Dzingel
2nd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	OTT	TB
1:39		Brayden Point (9) Unassisted	1	1
5:37		Nikita Kucherov (24) (Power Play) Assists: Victor Hedman, Jonathan Drouin	1	2
10:26		Nikita Kucherov (25) (Power Play) Assists: Tyler Johnson, Jonathan Drouin	1	3
19:46		Nikita Kucherov (26) (Power Play) Assists: Jonathan Drouin, Victor Hedman	1	4
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
5:16		Tom Pyatt: 2 Minutes for Holding Adam Erne
5:16		Mark Borowiecki: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Braydon Coburn
5:16		Braydon Coburn: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Mark Borowiecki
8:48		Dion Phaneuf: 2 Minutes for Tripping Alex Killorn
13:58		Andrej Sustr: 2 Minutes for Slashing Phil Varone
15:55		Zack Smith: 2 Minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct of Braydon Coburn
15:55		Braydon Coburn: 2 Minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct of Zack Smith
19:07		Zack Smith: 2 Minutes for Roughing Brayden Point
3rd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	OTT	TB
10:57		Braydon Coburn (3) Assists: Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson	1	5
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
12:38		Cedric Paquette: 2 Minutes for Tripping Tommy Wingels (Served by Adam Erne)
12:38		Cedric Paquette: 2 Minutes for Roughing Michael Blunden
12:38		Cedric Paquette: 2 Minutes for Roughing Michael Blunden
12:38		Chris Wideman: 2 Minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
12:38		Gabriel Dumont: 2 Minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
12:38		Michael Blunden: 2 Minutes for Roughing Cedric Paquette
12:38		Michael Blunden: 2 Minutes for Roughing Cedric Paquette
12:38		Gabriel Dumont: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Chris Wideman
12:38		Chris Wideman: 5 Minute Major for Fighting Gabriel Dumont
12:38		Cedric Paquette: 10 Minute Misconduct
18:22		Dion Phaneuf: 10 Minute Misconduct