Bolts follow familiar pattern in victory

by Gary Shelton on February 27, 2018 · 2 comments

in general

Vasilevskiy makes a stick save on Mitchell Warner's penalty shot./CARMEN MANDATO

Vasilevskiy makes a stick save on Mitchell Warner's penalty shot./CARMEN MANDATO

Tuesday, 4 a.m.

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Point continued be a shootout king./CARMEN MANDATO

Point continued to be a shootout king./CARMEN MANDATO

Overtime.

Offensively, Braydon Point scores.

Defensively, Andrei Vasilevskiy makes certain no one else does.

Lightning win, 4-3.

Yeah, the Lightning followed the same script as a week ago in a shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Back then, they beat the Montreal Canadiens, 4-3 when Point and Vasilevskiy starred in the shootout.

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Gourde had an assist on the Bolts' third goal../CARMEN MANDATO

Gourde had an assist on the Bolts' third goal../CARMEN MANDATO

"I think he's just a big-game player," said teammate Chris Kunitz. "He has the willingness to go score goals. Not everyone has that mentality. His ability to score goals and get open is someone you don't see with his size. He thrives in those moments. He's going to expand his game and keep getting better."

Dan Girardi and the defense played a solid game./CARMEN MANDATO

Dan Girardi and the defense played a solid game./CARMEN MANDATO

Kunitz also scored for the Bolts, as did Tyler Johnson and Adam Erne. But the Bolts got only a few shifts from star Nikita Kucherov, who missed the game with an upper body injury.

It was a tight game throughout, crisp and well played. Toronto had been on the Bolts' heels in the standings. You know, it was the kind of game that Point excels in.

Over his career, Point has seven shootout goals in 12 shots. Four of them have been game deciders. He's tied for the NHL lead with three overtime

Kunitz tries to get the puck past Frederick Anderson./CARMEN MANDATO

Kunitz tries to get the puck past Frederick Anderson./CARMEN MANDATO

goals and second with nine game-winning goals. The Bolts are 30-7-1 when he scores.

"He's amazing," Yanni Gourde said. "He's so quick. He's using his speed.  He got the puck away so quick that the goalie wasn't expecting it. He's always ready to shoot."

Said Cooper: "A lot of times, he just goes down there and shoots the puck in the net. That's what you're supposed to do. That's all I can say."

Cooper was pleased with the victory.

Callahan fights for position for Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

Callahan fights for position for Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

"It was two teams that wanted to win a hockey game," Cooper said. "That was pretty clear. It was fast. Both teams competed. It had everything: five on threes, four on threes, penalty shots. big saves. great goals. The only thing it was missing was a good scrap. It was a good hockey game."

Vasilevskiy picked up his league-leading 37th win of the season. He stopped 27 of 30 shots.

The Bolts are home Wednesday night against Buffalo. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

Tyler Johnson puts a shot on net for Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

Tyler Johnson puts a shot on net for Bolts./CARMEN MANDATO

 

 

 

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