The biggest storyline from this much-needed Lightning win was the performance of the Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Conor Geekie line. The three players combined to post nine points as the Lightning ended their road trip on a high note.
Geekie joined Cirelli and Hagel in the third period of Monday’s loss at Toronto. On Tuesday, he was with them for the entire game. They clicked from the get-go. In the first period, Geekie set up Nick Perbix for a chance off the rush. Later in the frame, Geekie just missed wide on a backdoor feed from Cirelli. Right after that chance, Timo Meier boarded Geekie. Brayden Point scored on the ensuing power play, tying the game at one.
The Lightning yielded a goal to Meier in the opening minute of the second period and trailed, 2-1. But they tallied five unanswered goals before the period ended. Victor Hedman bookended two goals around Hagel’s natural hat trick.
For much of the first 30 minutes, the Lightning carried play. They owned a majority of the possession, shots, and scoring chances. At the halfway point of the second period, they had a 3-2 lead. In the second half of the frame, the Devils applied more consistent pressure. But the Lightning were able to add to their lead with counters. Goals four and five both came off rush chances. On the fourth, Geekie got the puck to Hagel on a two-on-one and earned an assist, his first point in the NHL.
The Lightning were up by a 6-2 score after 40 minutes. They had some hiccups in the third, allowing an even-strength goal off the rush and taking three separate penalties. The Devils converted on two of those power-play chances. But the fact that the Lightning were playing the second half of a back-to-back against a rested opponent may have played a role in how the third period unfolded. And in the end, it didn’t cost them. They helped themselves by scoring a power-play goal of their own, a Jake Guentzel wrist shot directly off the faceoff. And they caught a break when J.J. Moser’s clear during a penalty kill hit off the glass and caromed into the net (goalie Jake Allen was out of the crease after anticipating the puck going behind the goal).
It was the third straight game in which the Lightning allowed five goals, but that wasn’t one of the main takeaways from this game. Instead, they got offensive production from their top two lines. They overcame the circumstantial disadvantage of a back-to-back with travel. And most importantly, they snapped their two-game losing streak.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game:
- Brandon Hagel — Lightning. Natural hat trick and assist. Career-high four points.
- Anthony Cirelli — Lightning. Career-high four assists and four points.
- Conor Geekie — Lightning. First career NHL point.
