Gourde had two goals to lead the Lightning./JEFFREY S. KING
Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Evidently, the Tampa Bay Lightning isn't finished with its regular season yet.
At a time when the Bolts should be preparing for the post-season, it fattened its record a bit more Monday night in Ottawa. The Lightning won, 5-2, for its 60th win of the season.
Only two other teams in the history of the NHL have ever won 60 -- the '95-'96 Red Wings and the '76-'77 Canadiens. The Lightning’s 124 points are tied for the fifth most in NHL history (the most: 132 points by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens).
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Stamkos scored his 42nd goal of the season./JEFFREY S. KING
The Lightning also has 28 road wins on the season, the second-most in the history of the league. The Lightning can match the record for most road wins in a season (31 by the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings) with three wins over its final three road games of the season.
“Winning 60 is a credit to those players," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "I’ve been in the league for a while now and understand what a grind it is to play 82 of these with the schedule and everything. To win three out of four and do it all year long, got to give those guys credit because in the end we’ve kind of been looking at the playoffs here for a while and they keep bringing it. I’m really proud of the guys.”
Said Brayden Point: “It’s nice to get to that number. I think as a group, we’ll cherish it looking back at it, but I think right now we’re still focused on the last remaining games we have in the regular season and making sure we put our best foot forward.”
Yanni Gourde scored two goals to lead the Bolts. Mikhail Sergachev, Point, and Steven Stamkos also scored.
Cooper thought the Point line was very good.
“Yeah, they were really good tonight," Cooper said. "Pointer had the puck on his stick all night long. Kuch was just being Kuch, finding everybody all over the place. Gourdo was going to the net, doing what he does. They were kind of the engine that got us going, definitely in the second period. Then it was nice to see Stammer get on the board there on the rush. And Sergey too. Sergey’s got a bigger role now, especially with Heddy out and it was a good job. But, yeah, Pointer’s line was outstanding tonight.”
Said Gourde: “It was pretty amazing. These guys are so good, they’re so talented. They see the ice so well. They skate. They work hard. There’s not much you can say about them. They’re amazing players.”
Stamkos scored his 42nd goal of the season and Point his 41st. Stamkos now has 94 points, three shy of his personal record.
The Lightning play again tonight in Montreal against the Canadiens. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m.
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