Mishkin's Extra Shift: Lightning 3, Blackhawks 1

For the better part of two periods, this was a game that had a sluggish feel to it, one that featured very few scoring chances. The only goal during the opening 40 minutes came from Brayden Point - he finished his own rebound from the front of the net. But after the 'Hawks tied the game early in the third, the Lightning raised their intensity level. They decisively controlled the final half of the third, generating numerous scoring chances. Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek turned them all aside - until the final minute of regulation. That's when Point struck again, recording the eventual game-winner off a one-timer from the slot at 19:00. Branden Hagel added an empty netter just before the final horn.

During his morning press conference, Jon Cooper stated that he had liked his team's performance against Vegas on Thursday and he hoped to see the Lightning build upon it. While their offensive attack was fairly quiet until the third (credit Chicago for playing a determined defensive game), the Lightning themselves did well to limit opposition scoring chances as well. The Lightning held Chicago to just 24 shots on goal and only 45 total attempts. Just as significantly, Chicago's dangerous looks were kept to a minimum. When the Lightning were struggling with their game in the weeks prior to this four-game homestand, they were yielding too many opposition chances. That hasn't been the case, especially in the past two contests.
The Lightning found another gear in the second half of the third period. Over the final 10 minutes of the final frame, the Lightning outshot the Blackhawks, 9-1, and shot attempts were 14-2 in favor of Tampa Bay. The line of Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Brandon Hagel was particularly dangerous during that timeframe, so it was not surprising that those three players were on the ice when the deciding goal was scored.
There was concern about the status of Steven Stamkos, who left the game with an injury late in the first period. Afterwards, Cooper said they were "hopeful" that Stamkos would be okay.
The Lightning wrap up the back-to-back tomorrow night against Winnipeg, which won in overtime on Saturday in Sunrise. They'll look to deliver another strong defensive outing.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
1. Brayden Point - Lightning. Two goals. Career-high 43 goals on the season.
2. Mikhail Sergachev - Lightning. Two assists.
3. Petr Mrazek - Blackhawks. 34 saves.