TAMPA BAY, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted a chippy and physical game against the Carolina Hurricanes at Amalie Arena on Jan. 7. Returning home from a short, three-game California road trip, the Bolts were looking to come back with a much-needed win after losing three straight to start 2025.
But this game was against a very competitive, physical, and talented Carolina Canes team, as they were 24-15-2 for 50 points in 41 games before the puck drop. They were in third place in the Metro Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference, just six points above Tampa.
For the goaltenders, Pyotr Kochetkov and Andrei Vasilevskiy started for their respective teams, and would have a goalie battle during this game.
The Lightning started off the first with intense zone momentum in the Canes’ zone, but the visiting team was laser-sharp, instopping the scoring plays. This was especially seen during their first and only penalty kill.
But with three minutes remaining in the first period, Brandon Hagel capitalized on the Lightning’s offensive-zone pressure, tucking the puck past Kotchetkov near the blue paint to open the scoring.
Carolina seized a good moment to tie the game in the second period, and they did just seven minutes into the frame. Svechnikov scored, tying the game at one with a solid backhander on Vasilevskiy right off the faceoff in Tampa’s zone.
Once a tie game, then a one-goal lead for the Lightning once again. With a second left in their third power play opportunity of the game, Nick Paul tipped in the puck from a blueline wrister by Darren Raddysh.
The second PP unit got it done, and seemingly broke a horrendous power play scoring deficit from the last three games for the Bolts.
In the third period, the Bolts held off the Canes from tying the score for the first half of the third period, playing aggressively defensively while also absorbing physical hits from the Canes. But entering the second half of the third, Jordan Staal tipped in a shot from Brent Burns to tie the game with ten minutes left.
Then, in what seemed like an inevitable overtime period, the Bolts’ top-line stars broke the tie in an incredible fashion. Nikita Kucherov, near the right-wing corner, fed to Brayden Point near the crease with a cross-ice pass; Point spun around and put the puck in deep past Kotchetkov.
The fans at Amalie Arena were the loudest they’d been all game, as their team would take this game 3-2 in a much-needed way to bring back the momentum in 2025.
Kochetkov made 31 saves, while Vasilevskiy made 30. Both netminders were sharp during the game, and kept the score at just 3-2.
Point and Hagel were just two of several Bolts forwards highly present in the offensive end. From their forechecking and pressuring of the Canes to scoring goals, the two were responsive for a difference-making result in the game.
That is why they are the three stars of the game.
Three Stars
- Brayden Point (1 goal)
- Jordan Staal (1G-1A)
- Brandon Hagel (1G)
ITR 32: The Final Countdown – Inside The Rink
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