Brayden Point’s two third-period goals, coupled with Nikita Kucherov’s four-point performance, propelled the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday in a pivotal matchup for playoff positioning.
Two of the Lightning’s goals came on special teams, one short-handed and the other on the power play, showcasing their prowess in crucial moments. Tampa Bay, boasting the NHL’s top power play, capitalized on these opportunities to tilt the game in their favor.
“Special teams play was crucial for us tonight,” remarked Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “Winning that battle gave us a chance to secure the victory.”
With his 37th and 38th goals of the season, Point continued his dominance against the Knights, tallying eight points in the last three meetings. Meanwhile, Kucherov contributed a goal and three assists, extending his point streak to 11 games and claiming the NHL’s top spot with 118 points, surpassing Nathan McKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.
Anthony Cirelli and Anthony Duclair also found the back of the net for the Lightning, while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 24 saves to secure the win. Steven Stamkos chipped in with two assists, extending his point streak to six games.
Duclair, who has made an immediate impact since his acquisition from San Jose, expressed his adjustment to the Lightning’s system, crediting his linemates for making the game easier for him.
In a clash between two formidable teams with recent Stanley Cup victories, the Lightning further solidified their wild-card playoff spot with their fourth consecutive win and fifth in six games. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights, who had won three of their last four games, maintain a three-point lead over the Minnesota Wild for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Reflecting on the game, Knights coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged his team’s strong performance but emphasized the importance of capitalizing on such opportunities, especially at this crucial stage of the season.
The game saw both teams trade goals off rushes in the first period, setting the tone for a tightly contested matchup. Despite the Knights’ efforts to level the score, Point’s decisive goals in the third period sealed the Lightning’s victory, with Kucherov adding an empty-netter to secure the win.
