Tuesday, 4 a.m.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning it was the perfect way to close out a game.
Andrei Vasilevskiy ... huge save.
Brayden Point ... slick return pass.
Nikita Kucherov ... the winning goal.
It didn't take long -- only 27 seconds of overtime -- but the Bolts found the perfect finish to their 4-3 win over Detroit in extra time at Benchmark International Arena. It was the Bolts' 50th win of the year, leaving them in a three-way tie with Buffalo and Montreal for the Atlantic Division lead.
The Bolts could be forgiven if they entered overtime on a down note. They held a 3-1 lead in the third period but gave it up to the Red Wings.
Detroit won the opening faceoff of overtime, and Alex DeBrincat drove to the net and got off a good shot. But Vasilevskit stopped it. Kucherov took the puck and did a back-and-forth passing drill with Point before scoring the winning goal.
It was Kucherov's 44th goal of the year. He is within three points of the NHL's scoring lead.
Also scoring for the Bolts were Conor Geekie (his first goal) and Jake Guentzel (his 38th).
Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of 30 shots for his 39th victory of the season.
The Bolts wrap up their regular season at Benchmark on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the New York Rangers.