Point scores winning point against Jets

by Gary Shelton on December 10, 2017 · 0 comments

in general, Tampa Bay Lightning

Point scores the winning goal in overtime./CARMEN MANDATO

Point scores the winning goal in overtime./CARMEN MANDATO

Sunday, 3 a.m.

Point moves the puck down the ice in overtime./CARMEN MANDATO

Point moves the puck down the ice in overtime./CARMEN MANDATO

At this rate, perhaps they should rename him as Brayden Two-Points.

Point was the difference in a tie and an overtime victory Saturday night, scoring on a backhander 36 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win. It was Point's 12th goal of the season. Point also had an assist on Yanni Gourde's power-play goal.

For the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was the fourth straight victory – the entire length of the home stand. The Bolts scored 20 goals in the fourt games and improved their league-leading record to 21-6-2.

“He’s been an instrumental player in where we are in the standings all year long," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of Point. "Naturally, you’ve got Stammer and Kuch and Vladdy who have done a phenomenal job for us and seem to get points every single night, which obviously we can’t win without."

 Content beyond this point is for members only.

Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo)!

Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.

Kucherov scored his 20th goal of the season./CARMEN MANDATO

Kucherov scored his 20th goal of the season./CARMEN MANDATO

 

Namestnikov moves down the ice for the Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

Namestnikov moves down the ice for the Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

"There are a lot of nights where Pointer is up against their top line or one of the top lines every night and he’s done a really good job on the penalty kill for us. You’re just always glad when guys who work that hard get rewarded and he deserved that.”

Forward Tyler Johnson said the team sensed the goal coming when Point was on the breakaway.

“Once he was able to get the puck, it was a little nerve wracking how he was able to beat the guy like that, but he’s skilled enough where he does and he’s obviously putting it in. When he got that break away I think everyone was

Sergachev scored his seventh goal of the season./CARMEN MANDATO

Sergachev scored his seventh goal of the season./CARMEN MANDATO

already over the boards before it even crossed the line.”

Point, a second-year pro, has been a threat for Tampa Bay all season.

“Tonight was a good game from both sides," Point said. "Guys made some huge saves in the third period. I think it was a good game, one of the ones like this when we play hard and get the result is good for the team.

“Special teams are huge in this league. You don’t get too many teams that play tight defense 5-on-5 so you don’t get too many chances. When you get a chance on the power play, you have to make it count and we’ve been doing that so far this year so hopefully we will keep doing that.”

Stamkos argues that a disallowed goal should count./CARMEN MANDATO

Stamkos argues that a disallowed goal should count./CARMEN MANDATO

For the Bolts, it was the ninth straight game with a power play goal. Tampa Bay leads the NHL in the power play.

“The big thing is being able to have two units that you can throw out there and have confidence that something good is going to happen," Cooper said. "If Stammer’s group is not putting it in the net then Pointer’s group is and vice versa. When you’re a threat in special teams, it can be a head game for the opposing team.”

The puck slips by Vasilevskiy./CARMEN MANDATO

The puck slips by Vasilevskiy./CARMEN MANDATO

Cooper was happy with the homestand.

“We got all the results we wanted, rose to the occasion when we had to," Cooper said. "Our goaltending was there when we needed it, and the team did what they had to do to win games.”

The Bolts got goals from Gourde and Mikhail Sergachev, but fell being in the third period. Nikita Kucherov, however, scored his 20th goal to tie things up at 3 with 8:51 to play.

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy won his 19th game of the season for the Bolts. He stopped 17 of 20 shots.

Tampa Bay now travels to St. Louis for a Tuesday night game. The puck drops at 8 p.m.

Yanni Gourde directs his ninth goal into the net./CARMEN MANDATO

Yanni Gourde directs his ninth goal into the net./CARMEN MANDATO

 

 

 

 

{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: