Gourde scored 14 seconds in overtime for the win./CARMEN MANDATO
Monday, 3 a.m.
What can do you in 41 seconds?
Can you read a page of a novel if the words aren't too big? Can you watch an insurance commercial if it doesn't feature Flo? Can you fall into a swimming pool?
If you're the Tampa Bay Lightning, you can turn disappointment into delight, a bad night into a good one and defeat into victory.
The Lightning struck late Sunday night, stealing a 4-3 game from the Ottawa Senators in the time you could exhale. Brayden Point scored with 27 seconds left in regulation, and Yanni Gourde scored 14 seconds into overtime to change everything.
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.
Brayden Point scored with 27 seconds left./CARMEN MANDATO
Point's goal was set up by a steal and pass from Ryan McDonagh, who had three assists in the game.
“How often do you see a shot block, a takeaway and an apple all within three-and-a-half seconds?" Lightning coach Jon Cooper wondered. "That’s hard to do. Didn’t give up on the play, and it was fortunate for us they were trying to head out of the zone. Mac just made a phenomenal play lifting the stick there, and the boys went to work after that.”
The Bolts had fallen behind 3-2 with 4:44 left to play when Cody Ceci scored after a scrum at the far end of the ice. The Bolts seemed to stop playing as the Senators scored down the ice for the go-ahead.
Ottawa had taken a 2-0 first period lead on a pair of power-play goals.
“A tough start, and give Ottawa credit, they came out humming," Cooper said. "Their power play was zipping it around. They earned that lead. But I really thought our guys kept chipping away. It did not come easy and they continued to work all the way to the end. The group has showed that this year for us, and I thought (we) deserved two points tonight.”
The Lightning chipped away at the lead, however, on Cedrick Paquette's second-period goal. Mathieu Joseph scored his first-ever NHL goal in the third.
“For him to be able to do that with his crew here is awesome," Cooper said. "In Montreal last night, I think he had seventy people there. I don’t know how many followed him to Ottawa, but it was a special moment and he’ll always remember that. And it was a huge instrumental goal that helped us win the game.”
Cooper said the Senators deserve credit for continuing to play before their third goal.
"They didn’t stop playing," Cooper said. "They didn’t stop playing; we did. You’ve got to play it to the whistle. They jumped up ice and made a play.You can’t get upset. All the intentions were good. Thankfully we were able to recover and pull it out."
The Bolts moved to 10-3-1, becoming the second team to win in double-digits (behind Nashville).
The Lightning return home to Amalie Arena to take on the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m,
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }