Video: Johnny Be Good, in OT that Is

Tyler Johnson (9) scores the game winning goal on Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) during overtime at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 4-3. (Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

Tampa, Fla. –Fresh off the “O” for Canada roadie, the Tampa Bay Lightning looked to get this four game home stand versus all Western Conference opponents.

Tonight was a landmark game as Ryan Callahan played his 600^th career NHL game.   Coach Cooper said this morning, that Callahan plays the hard minutes.  Cooper is glad Callahan is on the Lightning bench, and not someone else.

At 9:40 in the first period  the Predators are the first team to light the lamp.  What I called a weird chain of events, starting with a broken stick at center ice, an unintentional trip resulting in a turnover by the Lightning, then #12 Mike Fisher just rails one past #30 Ben Bishop.  The assists by #38 Viktor Arvidsson and #14 Mattias Ekholm two of the Swedish players which I’m sure made Nicklas Lidstrom and Rikard Gronborg smile. Lidstrom and Gronborg are here scouting Swedish players for the Swedish National team.

The Lightning looked tired, sluggish in the first period..  They were having a hard time with puck possession and at 14:55 James Neal gets a snap shot off, luckily Ben Bishop barely made the save as it trickled through him and gently off the iron allowing Bishop to keep the game at 1-0.

The Lightning were lucky to get out of the first period down by one goal.  The whole period they struggled, bad passes and sloppy play.

The Second period was not much better, but at 4:47 the Predators get a two minute minor penalty for too many men on the ice,  bring on a TECO Energy power play.  Unfortunately at 5:25 #17 Alex Killorn gets a two minute minor for holding negating the man advantage.

Steven Stamkos got a nice shot on goal, but #35 Pekka Rinne made the save.  It was completely non productive for both teams.

Things started to pick up for the Lightning, with the line of Ryan Callahan, Valtteri Filppula and J.T. Brown.  Filuppla got a shot on net, Pekka Rinne gave up a rebound, and J.T. Brown lit the lamp by battling a sticking with it!  This was at 8:22 in the second period with assists to Filppula and Andre Sustr.

J.T. Brown’s goal lit a fire on the Lightning bench, shortly after that at 10:07 #86 Nikita Kucherov drives the puck to the net, literally.  Pekka Rinne had trouble hanging on to it, and it’s a GOAL!!  His 22^nd goal of the season, the assist to #89 Nikita Nesterov and #30 Ben Bishop.   The Tesla coils were heating up and the Lightning were up 2-1!

Just over four minutes into the third period James Neal ties the game and that would set up a wild finish at the “Oil Can.”  Neal was set up by a unbelievable beautiful pass from deep in the defensive zone by #59 Roman Josi.  The pass split the D and Neal went in all alone top shelf on Ben Bishop.  2-2.

Three minutes and forty-five seconds later #9 Filip Forsberg makes a nifty move to start and stop beating Bishop. The proverbial air leaves the building as the Music City Cats go up 3-2.  Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game, “It was a definite breakdown, we should have never let Forsberg get to the net. He knows how to find the back of the net.”

As the clock in the third period bleeds towards zero and desperation mounts to most in the announced sellout crowd the Lightning are buzzing in the Nashville zone.  Ben Bishop races to bench in exchange for the extra attacker. And with just less than 27 seconds left, Stammer time. Steven Stamkos scores his 22nd of the season.  “My mindset was just gets some pucks on net… great screen by Cally.  It was a goal that was a long time coming for me. Hopefully it can be a big goal that gets us going.”

Tyler Johnson and the blue clad Bolts had more than a participation point in mind as Johnson blew the roof off with the OT game winner at 1:04.

Next up it’s the St. Louis Blues for the 6pm Valentine’s Day twi-nighter right here at the “Oil Can.”