Nikita Kucherov had an exceptional performance in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 8-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday, registering a goal and five assists, tying franchise records for both points and assists in a single game. His stellar play was highlighted by his playmaking abilities, which made the game easier for his teammates, including Brayden Point, who had a goal and three assists. Kucherov’s six points were instrumental in the Lightning’s dominant performance, and Point praised him as a key factor in the team’s success this season. Tampa Bay has now won three of their last four games.
Jake Guentzel also shined in the game, scoring a hat trick, while Anthony Cirelli contributed a goal and two assists. Tampa Bay’s goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy, made 19 saves in his 500th NHL game, and defenseman Ryan McDonagh acknowledged Vasilevskiy’s importance to the team, highlighting his consistency and competitiveness. Despite missing key defensemen, including Victor Hedman and Erik Cernak due to injuries, Tampa Bay was able to overpower the Flames, who have struggled recently, losing seven of their last nine games.
The game began with Jonathan Huberdeau putting Calgary ahead 1-0 early in the first period. However, Kucherov tied the game for Tampa Bay shortly before the first intermission with a breakaway goal. In the second period, Guentzel gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead, and Point extended it with a power-play goal. Cirelli’s second power-play goal of the game made it 4-1, but the Flames responded with two quick goals from Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, the Lightning capitalized on defensive breakdowns by Calgary.
The third period saw Tampa Bay take control with a quick goal from Brandon Hagel, followed by another from Guentzel, which increased the lead to 6-3. The Flames struggled to contain the Lightning’s offensive onslaught, as Guentzel completed his hat trick with a tap-in goal set up by Point. Conor Geekie added another goal to seal the win, making it 7-3 before Guentzel finished the game with an 8-3 final score.
Despite the victory, Tampa Bay’s coach Jon Cooper emphasized the importance of defending well in the third period, noting that the team didn’t just rely on their offensive talent to secure the win. He pointed out that the Lightning’s defense in the final 20 minutes was a crucial part of their success. The Flames, on the other hand, struggled with their defensive play, with Kadri acknowledging that poor defense allowed Tampa Bay’s skilled players to exploit their mistakes and put the game out of reach.
