WATCH: Tampa Bay Lightning Win 3-2 Overtime Thriller Over Florida Panthers, Hedman Scores Winning Goal in OT
By Tampa Bay Lightning // April 15, 2021
Tampa Bay remains tied with Carolina atop the Central Division standings
ABOVE VIDEO: Watch as a stretch pass to the blue line from Andrei Vasilevskiy helps create a goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA (Tampa Bay Lightning) – Victor Hedman scored the game-winning goal less than a minute into overtime to lead the Lightning to a 3-2 victory over the Panthers at Amalie Arena on Thursday night.
With the win , Tampa Bay remains tied with Carolina atop the Central Division standings and moves two points ahead of Florida.
The Panthers jumped in front late in the first with Patric Hornqvist slipping a backhander past Andrei Vasilevskiy. From the blue line, Alex Wennberg hit Hornqvist in stride down the middle of the ice and his shot got by the Lightning netminder at the near post.
The Bolts leaned heavily on Vasilevskiy in the first. He made 12 saves in the opening 20 minutes, including stops on a Jonathan Huberdeau breakaway and a save with his arm while falling to the ice that shut down a good look for Anthony Duclair.
After being held to four shots on goal in the first period, Tampa Bay responded with a strong middle frame and tied it up on an Alex Killorn power play goal. A stretch pass from Vasilevskiy sent Killorn and Anthony Cirelli in alone on a 2-on-0 rush. Killorn tried to center for Cirelli but instead ended up with the goal after the pass deflected in off the stick of a backchecking MacKenzie Weegar.
The Panthers went back in front at the 7:13 mark of the third, with Anthony Duclair converting on a 2-on-1 feed from Jonathan Huberdeau.
Ross Colton responded for Tampa Bay less than three minutes later to quickly tie the game at two. From the right point, Mikhail Sergachev fed Colton below the left circle and he got the shot through before Driedger could cover the far post.
In overtime, a pad save from Vasilevskiy sprung the Bolts on an odd man rush. Hedman cut to the middle of the ice, grabbed a feed from Killorn and tucked a forehander around Driedger’s pad to secure the second point for Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay was heavily outshot 38-19 on the evening but Vasilevskiy was sharp once again in net, stopping 36 shots in the victory.
The Lightning and Panthers are back at Amalie Arena on Saturday night to close out this two-game series.
For more information and analysis, visit NHL.com/Lightning
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