In Tampa Wednesday night, Victor Hedman scored two goals including the overtime game-winner in the Lightning’s 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
“I saw we had some separation,” Hedman said. “[Kucherov] made a great [saucer pass], and it was up to me to finish it off, and luckily it went in.”
Victor Hedman had two goals including OT winner Wednesday – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Just a few weeks ago the Lightning were mired in the Atlantic Division cellar but after the OT win they trail the Toronto Maple Leafs by just three points for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
- Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson also had goals for the Lightning as they improved to 29-25-8.
The Hurricanes came out with more jump in their skates in the first period and had a 2-1 lead in the opening frame.
“I look at our day yesterday in Sunrise. We traded [forward Viktor Stalberg] basically at the pregame meal, and we came out flat (in a 3-2 shootout loss at the Florida Panthers). They traded [forward Valtteri Filppula] this afternoon, and they came out flat. They’re humans, so it has an impact on you,” Canes head coach Bill Peters said of the start.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves for the win.
“We got schooled in the first period. It was another game where [goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy] had to come up huge for us just to keep it a one-goal game. I think that was the difference for us, was keeping it a one-goal game,” Bolts head coach Jon Cooper said.
Noah Hanifin, Derek Ryan and Jay McClement struck for goals for Carolina as the Canes dropped to 25-25-10.
“I thought we had a great start,” Carolina’s Lee Stempniak said. “We were all over them. They probably weren’t at their best, and they picked up play as it went along. I thought we did a good job of generating offense, maybe not as much as the game went on but especially early on. You’d like to find a way to win those games.”
Carolina is 1-6-2 in their last nine games.
WATCH: All Hurricanes vs. Lightning highlights
Eddie Lack made 12 saves in taking loss for the Canes.
“For like two periods I was just standing there. Obviously, I have to look to myself,” Lack said. “Only 16 shots and four goals, it’s not acceptable. I have to find ways to play good.”
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