In Tampa, Steven Stamkos hit for two goals in the third period to finish off a hat trick on Tuesday night, as the Lighting scored three times in the third to break open a 2-2 tie with the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. 
“He’s just a goal-scorer. It feels like he’s always streaking,” the Lightning’s Brandon Hagel said. “He doesn’t have too many stretches where he’s not scoring, and when he does he finds a way to put six or seven together in a matter of no time.”
In the third period, Anthony Cirelli snapped the 2-2 tie with a marker at 5:40, scoring off a rebound at the top of the crease.
“I thought we worked hard for two periods, and they found a way to get a little momentum there early in the third. Scored two big goals and took the lead on us,” the Blue Jackets’ Johnny Gaudreau said. “I thought we did a good job and we worked hard in their offensive zone. We had some good looks throughout the game but ended up losing.”
Stamkos potted his double just 16 seconds later for a 4-2 lead to Tampa.
He collected his hats when he hit an empty net at 17:57 for the 5-2 final count on the scoreboard.
“It was one of those games where, maybe this time of the year, it lacked a little emotion,” Stamkos said. “I thought we kind of went through the motions in the first and the second. … (A) little spark in the third. We needed that and we talked about it.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves in the win.
The Lightning improved to 44-27-7.
“On our side of things, it’s just making sure there are little details in our game that we’re looking after,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “It’s just imperative that we don’t slip. This league has so much parity and there’s such a fine line between winning and losing.”
Tampa took a 1-0 lead on a strike by Brayden Point at 16:31 of the opening stanza, scoring off a shot from below the left circle.
Columbus replied with the first of a double by Kirill Marchenko at 19:17, tying ythe game, 1-1, with a shot from the left circle.
The Blue Jackets dropped to 26-41-12.
“Collectively we played really well,” Columbus coach Pascal Vincent said. “We didn’t finish around the net, but we played in all three zones and we didn’t give much. That’s a team that has won the Stanley Cup recently. They can make plays with no room. They created their chances and when they did they were able to finish.”
In the middle frame, Marchenko collected his double at off a power play goal to give the Blue Jackets a 2-1 lead at 7:13.
“[Scoring twice
on Vasilevskiy] gives me a little confidence. He is a great goalie,” Marchenko said. “If we win this game, it’s more confidence for our team. It’s good confidence for me. … I’ve tried to shoot the puck all season.”
Stamkos potted his first of the match at 14:17 of the second, scoring off a power play with a shot from the near the bottom of the left circle.
Jet Greaves made 28 saves in the loss.
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