Lightning Win a Wild One

By on January 2, 2016

Jan 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) defends the goal as Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle (3) skates with the puck during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Andrei Vasilevskiy holds the post as Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle skates with the puck during the third period. (photo Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

The Tampa Bay Lightning played The Minnesota Wild in front of a sell out crowd for just the 20th time in the franchise’s history. The Minnesota Wild started playing in the 2000 – 01 NHL season and recorded their very first win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This would be the 2nd and last time this season these two teams would meet.   When these two teams met earlier this season at the Excel Energy Center, Minnesota goaltender #40 Devan Dubnyk shut the Lightning out 1-0 stopping 31 shots.

Not this time says #51 Valterri Filppula. Filppula lights the lamp at 11:40 in the first period, with the assists from #17 Alex Killorn and #91 Captain Steven Stamkos. This was Valterri Filppula’s fourth goal of the season. Valterri Filppula now has five goals and 13 assists in his NHL career against the Wild.

Unfortunately for the Lightning #3 Charlie Coyle of the Wild, catches Lightning netminder #88 Andrei Vasilevskiy off guard. Vasilevskiy left his post to retrieve the puck for the Bolts defenseman #5 Jason Garrison and the Wild’s #3 Charlie Coyle capitalized by stealing the pass from Vasilevskiy,  who badly misplayed the puck, and no-look backhanded it into a practically open net.  Tied…  Which is how the first stanza would end at 1-1.  On the giveaway,  “I felt awful for the Kid,” said Jon Cooper.

The “Triplets” are back together tonight and start the second period off with some thunder.  At 1:03 in the second period #86 Nikita Kucherov rips one by Minnesota Wild goaltender #40 Devan Dubnyk to put the Lightning ahead 2-1. #18 Andrej Palat and #6 Anton Stralman with the assists.  Palat chased his shot that was stopped by Dubnyk and steered to the corner. When Palat got to it, he centered and Kucherov buried it.

#86 Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is now the Tampa Bay Lightnings 2015-16 points leader with 30 with 14 goals, and 16 assists.

At 17:31 in the second period, a minor penalty to the Tampa Bay Lightning…too many men on the ice. A successful penalty kill for Tampa to hold the Wild off. The Lightning have out shot the Wild 25 to 15 and end the second period ahead 2 – 1.

At 0:52 in the third period, the Lightning Penalty Kill would be tested and proven successful once again. #13 Cedric Paquette commits a two minute minor tripping penalty.

At 12:06 in the third period, the Wild are on a power play compliments of the Bolts #55 Braydon Coburn delay of game.  Vasilevsky manages to make a beautiful save on a slap shot by the Wild’s # 24 Matt Dumba.  #20 Ryan Suter then rips one in. But wait the goal was challenged by Lightning Coach Jon Cooper, and waived off due to incidental contact with the goal tender by #9 Zach Parise.

The crowd noise resonated throughout the arena!! It’s another successful special teams play. Penalty kill, check!

At 16:00 in the third period, the Minnesota Wild have managed to test Lightning goaltender #88 Andrei Vailevskiy, and lead the shot count at 28 – 26.   Oh no, and at 17:21 in the third period Minnesota #46 Jared Spurgeon scored the tying goal making the score even 2-2. The assist to #3 Charlie Coyle and # 22 Nino Niederreiter.

At the end of regulation score tied 2-2, it was five minutes of 3 on 3 overtime. It was some pretty exciting 3 on 3 play, and the crowd was into it. Each team had 2 shots, no goals to leave the score tied 2-2.

It was time for the unavoidable shootout. The first shooter up for the Wild #11 Zach Parise, no goal. The first shooter for the Lightning #11 Brian Boyle, no goal. Second shooter for the Wild #9 Mikko Koivu, no goal. Second shooter for Tampa Bay Lightning #24 Ryan Callahan, GOAL! Third shooter for the Wild #3 Charlie Coyle no goal, and the game horn sounds! WIN 2 points for the Lightning. You’ve been #Thunderstruck.

Jon Cooper was happy with the way the Lightning played, he said, “The best first period we played all year, the best fifty minutes we played all year.”

The Lightning go on the road for four games starting with  the Calgary Flames on January 5th.

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