Brayden Point netted a decisive goal with just 52 seconds remaining, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. This victory came as a much-needed end to the Lightning’s four-game losing streak.
Along with Point’s crucial goal, Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul also contributed to the scoreboard for Tampa Bay. Darren Raddysh was instrumental in the win, recording two assists, while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy showcased his skills by making 30 saves throughout the match.
For Carolina, key players Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal each found the net, but the team fell just short of pulling ahead. Goaltender Pytor Kochetkov recorded 31 saves, doing his part to keep the game competitive.
The winning moment came when Nikita Kucherov expertly delivered a pass to Point, who was cutting into the slot. Point skillfully spun around to his forehand and unleashed a shot that sailed past Kochetkov, sealing the victory for his team.
In noteworthy takeaways from the game, Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns played in his 884th consecutive game, tying Steve Larmer for the sixth-longest iron man streak in NHL history. However, the Hurricanes have struggled to find consistency this season, having not won back-to-back games since mid-December.
On the Lightning side, Nick Paul became the sixth player from Tampa Bay to achieve at least 10 goals this season. Moreover, Vasilevskiy notched his 310th career victory, which placed him in a tie with Kari Lehtonen for 33rd on the all-time wins list.
A critical turning point in the match occurred when Victor Hedman secured the puck in the neutral zone after a near-miss for the Lightning. He redirected the play by passing the puck back into the offensive zone, preventing the Hurricanes from making a late line change right before Tampa Bay’s decisive goal.
Statistically, the Lightning improved their record to 21-5-1 when they score three or more goals in a game, showcasing their offensive capabilities.
Looking ahead, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Lightning are scheduled to welcome the Boston Bruins, both taking place on Thursday night.
