NHL Scores (10-18)

Colorado Avalanche (0) @ Washington Capitals (3)

Anaheim Ducks (1) @ New Jersey Devils (2)

San Jose Sharks (3) @ New York Islanders (2)

Pittsburgh Penguins (0) @ Montreal Canadiens (4)

Florida Panthers (3) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (4) (SO)

Arizona Coyotes (4) @ Ottawa Senators (7)

Dallas Stars (2) @ Nashville Predators (1)

Los Angeles Kings (3) @ Minnesota Wild (6)

Philadelphia Flyers (4) @ Chicago Blackhawks (7)

Buffalo Sabres (3) @ Calgary Flames (4) (OT)

Carolina Hurricanes (2) @ Edmonton Oilers (3)

St. Louis Blues (1) @ Vancouver Canucks (2) (OT)

Game of the Night

         Last night, the Florida Panthers faced their upstate rival Tampa Bay Lightning. Considering how exciting these teams are and how closely matched their games often are, it’s not much of a surprise this was game of the night.

         It was a back and forth battle between 2 very good teams who both intend to finish on top of their division at season’s end. The real excitement didn’t actually begin until the 2^nd period. That’s when the scoring started. Though Florida’s Colton Sceviour scored the opening goal shorthanded 2:38 into the 2^nd, it was the Lightning who emerged from the period with a slim 2-1 lead.

         Entering the final minute, however, the Lightning once again found themselves on the wrong side of things. They trailed 3-2 with the goalie pulled as they attempted one final time to tie the game. And then, it happened. Steven Stamkos slammed a one timer past James Reimer at the side of the net to tie the game with 6 seconds left. The margin between victory and defeat was so slim that a controversial shootout session was needed to ultimately decide the game.

         No one scored in the shootout until the 3^rd round, when Johnathan Drouin snapped a shot into the goal for his first career shootout goal. Next in line for Florida was Vincent Trocheck. It appeared his goal would not count because he touched the puck a second time. However, it was determined that he simply regained control of the puck before he took any shot, so the goal actually did count.

         After 2 more scoreless rounds, rookie Brayden Point became the unlikely hero when he scored on his first career shootout attempt. His goal held up as the game-winner, as Aaron Ekblad was stopped by Bishop to preserve a Tampa win that was very nearly taken away from them on a questionable call.

         After the game, in a brief interview, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman mentioned that both teams had already moved on from the controversy and began to look ahead. Nobody dwelled on it, for it was what it was, and nobody could go back and change it. I see that as a very good life lesson. You can’t plan for the future if you look too much into the past.

Play of the Night