The Tampa Bay Lightning snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the Blackhawks in Chicago 5-2, thanks to four goals in the final period of play. The Bolts are now 2-2-1 on their current road trip and 22-22-5 (49 points) this season.
Last night's contest against the Hawks started the same way many games have started for Tampa Bay this season, the opposition got on the board first. Jonathan Toews put Chicago on the board halfway through the first period with his ninth goal of the season. Luckily, the Lightning were able to even the scored before the first intermission when Brian Boyle scored his 12th of the year 18:35 into the period.
Duncan Keith tallied the only goal for the Blackhawks in period number two giving them a one-goal lead heading into the final period of play. Once again, Tampa Bay would be forced to come from behind, something they are far too familiar with.
Luckily, the Bolts caught fire in the third, scoring four unanswered goals to give them a much-needed victory. Tyler Johnson proved to be the man of the night as he found the back of the net twice in 30 seconds. Johnson is now on a two-game point streak and potted his third game-winning goal of the season.
To put it simply, the Lightning needed that win against the Blackhawks last night. Not to move them closer to a playoff spot, which I think is a pipedream at this point, but to provide some positivity to what has been tough times for the hockey franchise in Tampa Bay.
The biggest test for the Bolts now is whether they can build off of this strong performance. Consistency has been a struggle all year long for the Lightning as they usually follow one good game with two or three poor ones.
Tampa Bay will look to make it two straight wins when they face off against their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers, on Thursday for the last game of this long road trip.