If the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning play again this season, there will be a lot higher stakes.
But Tuesday’s game was important for both. The Canes wanted to even the season series with Tampa Bay and keep their hold on first place in the Central Division. The Lightning wanted to finish off a sweep of the two-game set and tighten things at the top of the division.
And make a statement. The Lightning wanted to do that, too.
But the Canes were ready this night, scoring three times in the second period and riding the cool, efficient play of goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to a 4-1 victory at Amalie Arena.
The Canes (30-10-5) moved to 65 points, three ahead of the Lightning (30-14-2). Florida also won Tuesday and have 65 points, but the Canes have two games-in-hand on the Panthers.
After a scoreless first period, the Canes’ Nino Niederreiter and Jordan Staal scored rapid-fire goals in the second period 25 seconds apart for a 2-0 lead. Steven Lorentz then made it 3-0 as the Canes continued to get strong, aggressive, effective play from their fourth line.
Brayden Point’s 20th of the season, soon after the Lorentz goal, made it s 3-1 game heading into the third.
Sensing the importance of the game, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper again turned to goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to complete the back-to-back. But the Canes, beaten 3-2 in overtime Monday, broke through in the second.
On Staal’s goal, on a redirection of a Dougie Hamilton shot, the Canes captain had a one-on-one confrontation with Yanni Gourde in front of the Tampa net. Staal knocked down Gourde, who then bounced up to begin cross-checking Staal, only to see Staal score.
Gourde could only turn and complain to the referee while Staal raised his arms high after his 14th of the season.
Nedeljkovic, who had 26 saves, was in control in his crease, making the routine and the anything-but-routine saves. His stop on an Alex Killorn shot from the slot with 1:17 left in regulation kept the Canes ahead 3-1.
Jordan Martinook’s empty-net goal finished it off for Carolina. It was a Martinook fight in the second period that further energized the Canes.
One downside to the Canes’ victory: defenseman Brady Skjei left the game after suffering an upper-body injury in the first period. Skjei did not return.
