TAMPA, Fla. — In an exciting match on Thursday evening, Nick Paul was a standout performer, contributing a goal and two assists that propelled the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Lightning showcased their offensive prowess with additional goals from Jake Guentzel, Luke Glendening, Brayden Point, and Mitchell Chaffee. With this victory, Tampa Bay extended their strong performance, winning five out of their last six games. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy played a key role, making 28 saves during the match.
Columbus had goal contributions from Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Mikael Pyyhtia, but their struggles continued as they recorded just one win in their previous nine matchups. Jet Greaves was in net for the Blue Jackets, stopping 27 shots.
The Lightning took control in the second period, scoring three goals, one of which came during a significant five-minute power play caused by Sillinger’s fight, which led to a major penalty. After falling behind 4-0, the Blue Jackets found some momentum, scoring two quick goals within a span of 43 seconds in the third period. Sillinger netted a power play goal with 5:49 left, closing the gap before Point sealed the game with an empty-net goal just over two minutes from the end.
In terms of injuries and performance notes, Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro had to leave the game in the first period due to a leg injury following a collision with Conor Geekie from Tampa Bay. The loss marked Columbus’s fifth defeat in their last six away games, leaving them with a road record of 4-11-2.
On the Tampa Bay side, Guentzel achieved a personal best by scoring in seven consecutive games, falling just one game short of matching the franchise record. The team now boasts an impressive 12-1-1 record when leading at the end of the second period.
A pivotal moment of the match occurred when Paul, who initially missed a breakaway chance at the end of the first period, quickly redeemed himself with a wrist shot from the slot just 1:28 into the second period, establishing a 2-0 advantage for his team. He also played a crucial role by assisting on the second and third goals scored in that same period.
A noteworthy statistic from this matchup indicates that Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 31-12 over their last six games, highlighting their recent dominance on the ice.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets are set to host the New Jersey Devils next Thursday, while the Lightning will welcome the St. Louis Blues on the same day.