Pirri Five Holes Bish Twice

Brandon Pirri scored the only shootout goal and a regulation penalty shot goal beating Ben Bishop five hole on both.

Tonight was the first of five meetings between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.  Tampa Bay won three of four against the Panthers last season, including both games that were played here at 401 Channel Side Drive, the “Oil Can.”

Three of the four games were decided by one goal. The Lightning are in the midst of a six-games-in-seven home stand and the away game is a rematch with the Panthers Monday night.  The Lightning are 4-4-0 currently against Atlantic Division rivals this season.

The Lightning left the ice victoriously Thursday night 3-1 against the Western Conference Calgary Flames. In the last seven  minutes of that game, they showed sparks of the team from the 2014-15 Stanley Cup run. 

The puck drops and less than five minutes into the game, the Panthers open the scoring at 4:38 which was a wrap around by #36 Jussi Jokinen assists #21 Vincent Throcheck and #51 Brian Campbell .

A little over ten minutes later the Lightning answer back when #13 Cedric Paquette lights the lamp (his 2^nd goal of the season) assisted by #23 JT Brown.  Roberto Luongo inadvertently poked the puck to Brown, who shot and hit the post and Paquette cleaned it up.  Score is tied 1-1.

Both net minders, Tampa’s #30 Ben “The Bish” Bishop and the Panthers #1 Roberto Luongo have been not much more than spectators. Only 13 shots on net between both teams in the first. Tampa 6 & the Panthers 7.

The second period opens and at 1:02 #90 Vladislav Namestinikov SCORES, assist to #91 Steven Stamkos. Almost immediately at 2:39 the Panthers #27 Nick Bjugstad scores. Here we go.

It’s getting chippy on the ice surface of the “Oil Can.”  Matt Carle checks #73 Brandon Pirri and sends him reeling into the boards. Pirri is awarded a penalty and slips one through the gaping five hole of #30 Ben “The Bish” Bishop.

Then it looks like the Lightning are turning up the heat as #77 Victor Hedman and #17 Alex Killorn feed the puck to #6 Anton Stralman for his first goal of the season at 7:49! The score is even at 3-3.

Enter the third period and ask Panthers forward #18 Reilly Smith how it feels to be hit in the face with a stick! High sticking minor penalty #13 Cedric Paquette puts the Panthers on the power play. The game stays tied 3-3 with the “Bish” making two heroic saves!

The Lightning take the lead…  #90 Vladislav Namestinikov GOAL! Assists by #23 J T Brown and #91 Steven Stamkos. Bolts lead 4-3.

The crowd was entertained at 10:20 when the puck drops so do gloves, sticks and players. Quite a scrum ensues and players are sentenced to a total of 28 penalty minutes. 

At 18:10 “The Bish” makes a spectacular save on a wrist shot by Panthers defenseman #33 Willie Mitchell Panthers defenseman keeping the Lightning on top 4-3.

With less than one minute left to play the Florida Panthers pull their goalie #1 Roberto Luongo,  with an extra attacker tie the score 4-4. The game regulation horn sounds and it’s 3 on 3 hockey!

While Bolts were attacking  with a flurry of shots, they  draw a penalty. #91 Steven Stamkos is awarded a penalty shot and whiff!  Stamkos got Luongo down and shot right into his gut.  The extra period ends with the Panthers on the 3 on 3 overtime, 4 on 3 power play.

#77 Victor Hedman, #11 Brian Boyle and #51 Valterri Filuplla all are stoned by Roberto Luongo.

The winner was by Brandon Pirri who was the first shooter for the Panthers and yes once again attacked the gaping five hole of the 6’7″ Bishop.  A virtual instant replay of the penalty shot.