Bolts fight through Shootout Controversy

Tampa, Fla. — It was a special night at Amalie Arena, as Jeff Vinik and the Tampa Bay Lightning honored #4 former Captain Vincent Lecavalier. Vinny and two of his children were center ice to drop the puck to now Captain Steven Stamkos. Vinny was a great player, leader and teammate according to virtually everyone he has ever played with.Vinny stated in the pre-game press conference that,  “I turn on hockey games and watch a period then turn it off, but when I watch the Lightning I want more like 4 periods. They are an exciting team to watch!”

The Lightning made it extra special with a dramatic game tying goal by captain Steven Stamkos with 5.5 seconds left, and a win in a six round shootout which featured some controversy.

The game was off to a slow start, the players just couldn’t seem to find their footing. A lot of falling and slipping. The Bolts did manage to get 4 shots on goal within the first six minutes.

This is Tampa’s big in-state rival, and this would be the first of four meetings between the two clubs this season. I couldn’t help but ponder on the fact that there were a few legends with us here tonight, Vincent Lecavalier, Roberto Luongo, Jaromir Jagr, Steve Yzerman, Scotty Bowman. Quite a list.

The first period was seeming to go off with out a hitch, or goal you might say.

At about 13 minutes into the first period, Brian Boyle got pick pocketed and Florida almost got the first goal. Instead Paquette received a two minute minor hooking penalty, and the Panthers would be the first on the power play to put #30 Big Ben Bishop to the test.

The Bolts stood strong on the first penalty kill, completely shutting the Panthers down and not allowing a shot on goal. Even strength play continued,  Andrej Sustr and defenseman Jason Garrison played with the puck just a little too much in their own zone and almost gave up a goal. Tyler Johnson managed to bat it out, only to have it skated back in with a shot on goal for the Panthers.

The first period buzzer sounded with the score 0-0.

It was an uneventful second period, until at Vincent Trochek of the Panthers got called for slashing, a two minute minor penalty. As he sat in the box, or “sin bin” as Rocket would say, the Panthers managed to score a short handed quite quickly. A moment in time I’m sure Ben Bishop would like to have back.

The Lightning seemed to be struggling to put together anything offensively, in the last two games about midway through the second is when they turned on the jets! It was getting close to that halfway point.

Nikita Kucherov decided to get things started and he dug the puck out behind the Panthers net, slid a sweet pass to Alex Killorn who wristed it pass the Panthers netminder #34 James Reimer. It was Killorn’s 3^rd goal of the season, and Kucherov’s 2^nd assist.

With an upbeat swing the Bolts now seemed to pick up the pace and started digging harder in the corners and crashing the net. It paid off as Jonathan Drouin creates a play behind the net, Steven Stamkos puts the puck on goal, Reimer gave up a juicy rebound and Ondrej Palat roofs one to give the Lightning the lead. The goal horn sounds, and the crowd went nuts! The Bolts continued with their offensive onslaught on the Panthers netminder and he was looking a little shook up, but just in time the end of the second period buzzer sounded. Score was now Bolts 2, Panthers 1.

The rival Panthers from South Florida tied the game at two when former Bolt and Lightning killer Jussi Jokinen gave a nice pass to Vincent Trochek.  Score tied 2-2.

JT Brown decided he had enough of Florida’s Keith Yandle holding him and threw the first punch, as Yandle answered back. It was a short lived fight and Yandle received a 2 minute holding, and 2 minute roughing minor. JT Brown received a 2 minute roughing minor. The Bolts were going to need to get more physical than that to get something going with the score tied 2-2.

The Panthers were putting the pressure on in the 3^rd period, and a few times it looked as if Jaromir Jagr was going to score his career milestone 750^th goal here tonight at the “Oil Can.” A lot of these young players weren’t even born yet when Jagr began his NHL career.

Luckily #30 Big Ben was on point and focused, giving the Lightning a good chance to get the go ahead goal.

I guess if you give the Florida Panthers eight or so shots on goal in about five minutes time, one of those is going to get through.  On a delayed penalty call  Michael Matheson snaps one through Bishop’s five hole to put the Panthers ahead 3-2, with 4:08 left to go. The assisst to Greg McKegg and Jason Demers.

With about two minutes left to play Nikita Kucherov gets an excellent scoring opportunity only to overskate the pass and fan on the puck. The Lightning began their attack with Bishop on the bench, but the Panthers were up to the challenge defensively, or so I thought. Just as I was finishing my sentence with 5.5 seconds left Steven Stamkos one times one, form a sharp angle by Reimer, the helpers coming from Valterri Filppula and Victor Hedman. Now each team received a point with the score tied 3-3.

The game horn sounded, and it was time for some 3 on 3 overtime!

Killorn, Filppula and Stralman would lead the way for the Lightning. Ekblad, Barkov and Jokinen for Panthers. Lots of open ice and lots of skating. Not much shooting, I was getting dizzy. Then Jaromir Jagr commits a two minute hooking penalty. The game now moves to 4 on 3 in favor of the Lightning. I don’t think Tampa even got a shot on goal with that man advantage.

At the end of overtime the score remained 3-3. So the in state rivalry contest would be decided in a shoot out.

In a shootout that the Lightning would eventually feel like they won twice, there was controversy.  A six round shootout with rookie Brayden Point getting the game winner just before Ben Bishop shut down Aaron Ekblad in just his second career shootout attempt.

The reason why I say the Lightning must feel like they won twice, the last shooter of round three, #3 star, Panther Vincent Trocheck had a goal awarded after a video review.  Trocheck made a move and lost control and the puck traveled sideways.  In an attempt to retrieve the puck it appeared that Trocheck  stopped the puck before he rifled in the goal.   Waved off and then overturned, which in conclusion just set up the drama of three more rounds and the Point game winner.

The Colorado Avalanche, the first Western Conference team,  rolls in Thursday and then the Lightning go on the their first roadie of the year, a six gamer through Eastern Canada (Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal) and New York/Jersey (New Jersey, Rangers, Islanders.)

Catch me on the Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network radio show Mondays 1PM ET.

1st Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	FLA	TB
No scoring this period			0	0
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
12:11		Cedric Paquette: 2 Minutes for Hooking
2nd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	FLA	TB
2:38		Colton Sceviour (2) (Shorthanded) Assist: Derek MacKenzie	1	0
6:18		Alex Killorn (3) Assist: Nikita Kucherov	1	1
16:21		Ondrej Palat (1) Assists: Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Drouin	1	2
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
1:45		Vincent Trocheck: 2 Minutes for Slashing
18:37		Nikita Nesterov: 2 Minutes for Holding
3rd Period Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	FLA	TB
5:26		Vincent Trocheck (2) Assists: Jussi Jokinen, Reilly Smith	2	2
15:52		Michael Matheson (1) Assists: Gregg McKegg, Jason Demers	3	2
19:54		Steven Stamkos (2) Assists: Victor Hedman, Valtteri Filppula	3	3
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
5:45		J.T. Brown: 2 Minutes for Roughing
5:45		Keith Yandle: 2 Minutes for Holding (Served by Jaromir Jagr)
5:45		Keith Yandle: 2 Minutes for Roughing
9:39		Jonathan Drouin: 2 Minutes for Hooking
OT Summary
Time	Team	Scoring Detail	FLA	TB
No scoring this period			3	3
Time	Team	Penalty Detail
2:11		Jaromir Jagr: 2 Minutes for Tripping
Shootout Summary
Team	Detail		FLA	TAM
	Shootout attempt by Valtteri Filppula MISSES		0	0
	Shootout attempt by Jonathan Marchessault saved by Ben Bishop		0	0
	Shootout attempt by Nikita Kucherov saved by James Reimer		0	0
	Shootout attempt by Aleksander Barkov saved by Ben Bishop		0	0
	Shootout GOAL scored by Jonathan Drouin on James Reimer		0	1
	Shootout GOAL scored by Vincent Trocheck on Ben Bishop		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Steven Stamkos MISSES		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Jussi Jokinen saved by Ben Bishop		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Victor Hedman saved by James Reimer		1	1
	Shootout attempt by Reilly Smith MISSES		1	1
	Shootout GOAL scored by Brayden Point on James Reimer		1	2
	Shootout attempt by Aaron Ekblad saved by Ben Bishop		1	2