Great teams always find a way to win.
Brayden Point and the Tampa Bay Lightning found a way to do so Friday in the Battle of Florida.
In the first of four games in the 2022-23 season, Tampa Bay snuck past Florida in Sunrise, 3-2, led by Brayden Point’s two goals (one in the third period and one in overtime).
First Period:
The Panthers would set the tone and dominate the game early, but ultimately would not score despite having two power plays.
However, Tampa would get their first power play at 12:46, and 20 seconds into the power play, Steven Stamkos would slap a one-timer past Sergei Bobrovsky.
Just under three minutes later, All-Star Matthew Tkachuk would tie the game at one after he would redirect a shot from Brandon Montour in front of the net, putting the puck past Andrei Vasilevisky.
Second Period:
A lot of shots were taken in the second frame; 25 to be exact (13 by Tampa and 12 by Florida. However, only one goal was scored. And six penalties (three by each team).
Florida would take a 2-1 lead with just under five minutes left. Guess who? It was another new addition: Rudolfs Balcers, his second in five games. Balcers would score off the draw.
Third Period:
Brayden Point would do his typical against the Panthers, and it would start midway through the third. Point would deflect a pass from Kucherov down low in the net, leading to the game-tying goal. Right after that, Tampa would get another power play after Radko Gudas tripped Mikhail Sergachev.
However, Tampa Bay did not connect, and for the next 10 minutes, it would be a goaltending show to see who would be the one to allow the game winner. However, no goalie gave in for the remaining minutes in regulation.
3-on-3 Overtime:
Nikita Kucherov would go on a breakaway 39 seconds into overtime, and then would fall and get slashed again by Matthew Tkachuk. Tkachuk, Balcers, and Hedman each got penalized, giving Tampa a 4-on-3.
At 2:08, Brayden Point, once again, slipped a puck past Bob, sealing the win for the Bolts.
Next Up
On Sunday, Florida hosts the Islanders at FLA Live Arena at 5 PM. It will be a Miami gauntlet as the Dolphins play the Steelers after the aforementioned Islanders-Panthers game.
We shall see how Matthew Tkachuk performs. He already has eight points in just five games.
Meanwhile, the Lightning head back to Tampa Bay on limited rest. They will face the Islanders on the second night of a back-to-back.
Steven Stamkos has seven goals (nine points) in five games, which is top five in the NHL.