Final Score: Lightning 4 – Blue Jackets 0
Game Summary
Well that was not the outcome anyone was hoping for. It seems like once a week now the Jackets have a game like this where they just lay an egg. I don’t know what it is, but these afternoon games seem to give the Jackets problems. They started very slow again, getting outshot 15-5 in the first period.
The Jackets thought they had taken the lead late in the first, but Boone Jenner was called for goalie interference. The crowd didn’t like the call as Ben Bishop was outside of the crease and looked like he went down pretty easily. That really seemed to anger the Jackets and set the tone for the rest of the game. This was a chippy game. It started with Bishop chirping Nick Foligno. Foligno followed that up but clipping Bishop as Bishop was playing the puck behind the net. That caused a scrum and when it was all over Foligno continued to chirp at Bishop and three officials intervened.
The worst play came from Dalton Prout who joined that scrum and sucker punched Nikita Kucherov. Aaron Portzline has reported that the NHL will be taking a look at the play.
Told #NHL will take a closer look later at #CBJ Dalton Prout's sucker punch on #TBLightning Nikita Kucherov at 7:38 of the 2nd period.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 13, 2016
As for the rest of the game, the Jackets didn’t play well. They had a terrible first period as I mentioned. The Jackets played a better second, though Tampa scored the lone goal of the period. Fedor Tyutin had fallen down allowing Tampa to control the puck. From there the Lightning were able to cycle the puck and get it to Steven Stamkos who had broken free of the coverage by Boone Jenner. Stamkos ripped the one timer for his 30th goal of the season.
Confirmed: Stamkos Standard Time is not affected by Daylight Saving Time 🔨🕘 #TBLvsCBJ https://t.co/oGjYoXzkeA
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 13, 2016
The third period was when the Lightning really struck. The Jackets allowed not one but two short-handed goals. The first one Seth Jones made a poor pass to Ryan Murray; Ondrej Palat grabbed the puck and was gone on a breakaway, rather than shoot he dropped it to Stamkos who scored. The second one Stamkos returned the favour, setting up Palat on a two on one.
Brandon Saad returned after missing the last three games. He played 17:19, leading the team with a 66.67% Corsi.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of HockeyStats.ca, War On Ice, and Hockey Reference.
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