Wednesday, 4 a.m.
For now, they are in the playoffs.
In five minutes? Better check back.
The Tampa Bay Lightning edged Ottawa Tuesday night, winning a 4-3 game that left the team tied for the wild card spot of the Eastern Conference. However, six teams are within eight points, meaning it’s liable to be a bumpy ride down the stretch.
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The Bolts scored two goals in both the second and third periods to edge the Senators. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy let in three goals, but made several solid saves among the 27 shots he stopped. Vasilevskiy has now won 22 goals.
Brandon Hagel snapped a 2-2 tie with an early goal in the third period to give the Bolts a go-ahead goal. After Ryan McDonaugh scored an empty-net goal with 1:35 left, Ottawa’s Drake Batherson scored to make it a one-goal game.
“That was a grind,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “We said in the room, ‘Let’s see what we’re made of.’ If we want to get ourselves back to where want to be, these are the games you have to win. And not only win, but makes sure we weren't’ sharing points.”
The Bolts played much of the game without centers Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli.
Also scoring for the Bolts were Luke Glendening and Nikita Kucherov, his 25th.
The Bolts play Ottawa again at Amalie Arena on Thursday night at 7 p.m.