Lightning rally from three-goal deficit to beat Blackhawks
When the Lightning began their three-game series in Chicago with an unlikely last-second overtime win over the Blackhawks, coach Jon Cooper had trouble celebrating because it was yet another case of Tampa Bay battling period-to-period inconsistency.
Sunday’s game was the latest example, as Tampa Bay found itself down three goals just over three minutes into the second period.
There’s still much better in the Lightning, but they showed how quickly they can take over a game, scoring four second-period goals — including three in a four-minute span — on their way to a 6-3 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center.
With the teams meeting for the third time in four days, the series had a playoff feel, as players exchanged blows and coaches made game-to-game adjustments.
The second period has been the Lightning’s best this season, as they’ve outscored opponents 33-17. Three of their goals in the period on Sunday were scored on the power play.
Yanni Gourde had two, including the go-ahead goal with 3:05 remaining in the period to give the Lightning a 4-3 lead. He unloaded a slap shot from the top of the left circle, beating Blackhawks goaltender Kevin Lankinen top shelf.
After the Lightning fell behind 3-0, Ondrej Palat put them on the scoreboard with a wrister from the right circle past an Alex Killorn screen for his eighth power-play goal of the season and 10th overall just under four minutes into the second.
Gourde scored just 23 seconds later, collecting his own rebound from the top of the left circle and burying his second opportunity inside the near post. Defenseman Victor Hedman scored on a slap shot from the point just under eight minutes into the period.
Hedman’s goal resembled Tampa Bay’s game-winning goal with 0.1 seconds left in overtime Thursday. Only this time Killorn, who again provided a screen for Hedman, didn’t deflect the shot.
Despite allowing three goals early, Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy held the Blackhawks at bay down the stretch. He did get a little lucky, as Chicago hit the post numerous times, including Ryan Carpenter’s back-handed shot early in the third that clanked off the far post.
Lankinen kept the game close in the final period until Killorn gave the Lightning a two-goal cushion with 5:35 left with his third goal in as many games.
Pat Maroon added an insurance goal with with about 2-1/2 minutes remaining.
The Lightning played nearly half the game with just five defensemen after Erik Cernak was injured following an illegal check from Blackhawks defenseman Conor Murphy 9:27 into the second period.
Cernak absorbed an elbow to the head behind the Lightning net and remained on the ice for several moments before he was helped to the bench. Murphy was assessed a match penalty and ejected but not before several Lightning players scrapped with him after the whistle. Tampa Bay was already playing without defenseman Jan Rutta, who missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury.
The Blackhawks scored on their first power play and added another goal seconds after another man advantage expired. But the Lightning killed 3 of 4 penalties against the Blackhawks’ top-ranked power play unit.
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard.
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