Well that didn’t take long.
In Tampa, Victor Hedman scored with just 10 seconds clean ice used in extra time for a 4-3 win for the Lightning over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday evening.
“I felt like I had a lot of good looks today and wasn’t able to convert,” Hedman said. “It was kind of a mess off the face-off and we were able to retrieve the puck. ‘Pointer’ made a great play and I had some time and space. It’s a good feeling.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves in the win.
“For the most part, our game hasn’t been too bad,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. “I like the way the guys are working. We just want to finish strong. First of all, we’ve got to get in [to the playoffs]. We’re inching closer.”
Eric Robinson struck for two goals for Columbus.
“It’s good to be doing the right things and make sure you’re playing the right way,” Robinson said. “But it’s hard when you’re not getting the result to keep sticking with it. I thought we’ve done a good job the past few games of sticking with it during tough times. I think if we keep going with it, we’ll see a [positive] result soon.”
Tampa’s Alex Barre-Boulet tied the game early in the third period and eventually force the extra session.
“It was a great play by ‘Pally'” Barre-Boulet said. “I was wide open on the other side on the power play. I had an empty net, I just had to put it in.
“I missed a couple before tonight, but it was good to have it tonight. It’s out of the way now so I don’t have to think about it.”
Ondrej Palat opened the scoring in the game to give the Bolts a 1-0 lead.
“I just like the way our guys stuck with it,” Cooper said. “They didn’t press. They just stuck with the plan and it worked out.”
Mathieu Joseph also scored for the Lightning in regulation.
Mikhail Grigorenko‘s goal for Columbus tied the game at 1-1.
Joonas Korpisalo got the start for the Jackets but left the game in the third period for an apparent injury. He made 23 saves.
“He played well,” Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said. “I think there’s been some struggles in his game lately … we just stopped getting above the puck in the second and with so many odd-man rushes, that’s where he gave us an opportunity to stay in the game.”
Elvis Merzlikins made seven saves in relief in relief.
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