PHILADELPHIA – The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steven Stamkos picked up his 1,000th career NHL point with an assist in a 4-1 win over the Flyers on Thursday night.
Owen Tippett #74 of the Philadelphia Flyers attempts to put the puck past Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
“Just amazing to share it with these guys,” Stamkos said. “It’s an individual statistic, but there’s so many people that have helped me get here, from the players I played with in the past. Obviously, [Martin St. Louis] and [Vincent Lecavalier] and there’s so many guys that I started with and you just reminisce, like Teddy Purcell, Ryan Malone, Mike Smith, the list goes on. And then you’ve got [Nikita Kucherov] and [Victor Hedman] and [Brayden Point] and all these amazing players that I played with. Obviously, the guys I’m playing with now, [Alex Killorn], Paul. Everyone just has a hand, coaching staff.
“It just brings back so many amazing memories, like your parents getting you involved in the game, all that kind stuff, just kind of flashes back. It’s one of those things that I don’t think hits you till a little later. But just to share that with the guys on the ice, that’s something you never dream of as a kid. So, for it to become a reality is pretty awesome.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 21 saves in the Lightning win.
Stamkos picked up the milestone on a goal from Nicholas Paul‘ in the second period.
“I got the puck low in the corner, ‘Killer’ made a good play,” Stamkos said. “I took a peek over my shoulder, I saw Cole coming down the backside and for a second I was just going to throw it back post, but then I didn’t want to get yelled at in the meeting for turning the puck over. So, I thought I’d make the safe play behind the net, and obviously he made a great play out to Paul in front.”
Tampa improved to 14-8-1.
Paul had two goals for the Lightning who took a 4-0 lead in the game.
The Flyers’ Travis Konecny scored in the third period to break up the shutout bid.
“There’s not many positives from tonight, to be honest with you,” Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo said. “Wasn’t a good game all around. They outplayed us from start to finish.”
The Flyers dropped to 8-11-5, and have lost 11 of their last 12 games.
Paul’s first goal came off the power play in the first period for a 10 lad.
“The big thing for me is we’re winning face-offs,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “When you win face-offs and you start with possession, the mojo starts kicking in.”
Paul’s second goal made it 2-0 in the second, Ross Colton pushed the lead to 3-0 in the same frame.
“I’m glad we scored that third one late because it would have been … not that I was thinking we need another one, but to get that third one was a little bit of burst [the Flyers’] bubble,” Cooper said.
Ian Cole hit for a marker in the third to give the Bolts a 4–0 advantage.
“We never could change the momentum back after that one shift where they hemmed us in,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “We just didn’t have the ability to change the momentum back our way.”
Carter Hart made 23 saves in the loss.
Morgan Frost #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for a shot to tip past Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning players clear the bench in celebration of teammates #91 Steven Stamkos earning his 1000th NHL point
Carter Hart #79 and Ivan Provorov of the Philadelphia Flyers #9 and Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a stick save on Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning
Morgan Frost #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks for the puck as Haydn Fleury #7 of the Tampa Bay Lightning defends his goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy #88
Ian Cole #28 and Ross Colton #79 of the Tampa Bay battle Philadelphia Flyers Tanner Laczynski #58 and Max Willman #71
Tampa Bay Lightning players celebrate a goal by teammate Nicholas Paul #20
Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles Travis Konecny #11 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Nick Seeler #24 of the Philadelphia Flyers battles Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning in front of Philadelphia Flyers Goalie Carter Hart #79
Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers makes a pad save.
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