Wednesday, 4 a.m.
Here on the brink of the post-season, the mantra for the Lightning is simple:
Follow the stars.
The Bolts stayed hot — 11-2-1 in their last 14 games — and pulled away from the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night in a 5-2 win. And the suggestion was simple: If the Bolts are capable of damage in the post-season, their stars will lead them.
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For instance:
— Team captain Steven Stamkos scored a hat trick, the 13th of his career. He now has 39 goals on the season. Stamkos has scored 40 goals six seasons, but only once in his last six seasons.
— NHL leading scorer Nikita Kucherov had three assists It was the 23rd time this season Kucherov has at least three points in a game.
— Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy won his 30th game of the season, It was the seventh straight season Vasilevskiy has at least 30 wins.
The Bolts were tied 2-2 after two periods Tuesday night, but scored twice in 16 seconds to get some breathing room. Stamkos scored an empty-netter for his hat trick,
Also scoring was Brayden Point (his 44th), and Anthony Cirelli (his 20th).
The Bolts are home at Amalie Arena on Thursday night against Ottawa.