Lightning use third period outburst to flatten Blues

In Tampa, the Lightning scored three times in the third period to help them take a 4-2 decision over the visiting St Louis Blues on Thursday night.

Victor Hedman struck for a pair of goals in the third period outburst and had three points on the night.

“One of the things I expect out of myself is to change the game up offensively or defensively,” Hedman said. “This is what I want to do and tonight it was scoring goals.

“And scoring goals is always fun.”

The Lightning improved to 13-5-4.

“It was good for Vic,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “I’m not sure he’s been completely happy with his game these last few games. For him to break out and put a stamp on this one, it was big.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves in the Bolts win.

Brandon Saad and Pavel Buchnevich were the Blues strikers.

“It’s crazy, but that’s what this year’s been,” the Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly said. “It’s unfortunate, it’s out of our control, but we could have won that game tonight. We’ve got to stick with it, we’ve got a tough test coming up [at the Florida Panthers on Saturday].”

Tampa took a 1-0 lead in the first period off a goal from Ondrej Palat.

After Saad tied it in the third, Anthony Cirelli put the Lighting up 2-1.

“We had some good looks on the power play there to tie it up, but at the end of the day, puck management and a couple of mistakes cost us,” Saad said. “We competed hard and had the right intentions.”

St Louis dropped to 12-8-3.

Buchnevich tied it 2-2 before Hedman struck for his pair for the 4-2 final.

The Blues were without Jordan Binnington and Justin Faulk who were placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol.