The Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning are playing what amounts to a four-game series with a playoff feel to it.
After the first two games, it’s now tied 1-1. The Lightning, who had been stymied offensively by the Canes this season, won 4-2 on Monday at PNC Arena.
Ondrej Palat’s goal pushed Tampa Bay ahead 3-2 at 8:04 of the third with a shot in tight that went off the skate of Canes defenseman Brady Skjei by the crease, off the left pad of goalie James Reimer and into the net.
The Canes (12-4-1) shut out the Lightning 4-0 on Saturday, in a game slotted into Carolina’s schedule by the NHL. Alex Nedeljkovic notched his first career NHL shutout in the game.
Reimer was the starter Monday and Tampa Bay could not score in the first period despite dominating puck possession and the pace of play. Steven Stamkos finally broke through with a power-play goal in the second period and Victor Hedman also scored in the second for Tampa Bay.
Jesper Fast scored his first two goals with the Hurricanes. Fast had the only first-period goal, off the rebound of a Martin Necas shot, and then a power-play goal with 45 seconds left in the second.
Alex Killorn had a late empty-net goal to clinch the victory for Tampa Bay (11-4-1).
Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, the loser Saturday, earned the victory with 34 saves.
