COLUMBUS — The Tampa Bay Lightning used two goals from Steven Stamkos, and additional goals from Corey Perry and Ross Colton to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Friday night at Nationwide Arena.
Cal Foote also scored for the Lightning, and Vladislav Namestnikov, Alex Killorn and Mikhail Sergachev each added two assists. Netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots. Johnny Gaudreau scored his first goal since joining the Blue Jackets in the offseason, and Gus Nyquist added the other Columbus goal.
Gaudreau scored the first goal of the game at the 2:21 mark of the first, as he took a behind-the-net feed from teammate Justin Danforth and burying the puck past Vasilevskiy as chants of “Johnny! Johnny!” erupted from the sellout crowd.
The Blue Jackets were playing without the services of star forward Patrik Laine, who injured his shoulder during their opening night loss to Carolina and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Tampa Bay took a 3-2 lead when Colton picked up a loose puck in the right circle, quickly moved towards the net and fired a shot past Tarasov with 1:05 left in the first period.
The Lightning extended their lead in the second period when Foote’s deflection of a pass from Colton went off the right skate of Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Bean and into the net to make the score 4-2.
Columbus a scoring opportunity late in the period, but was unable to take advantage of a 5-on-3 powerplay and trailed by two heading into the third period.
Stamkos added his second goal of the night to make it a three-goal lead with 7:57 left in the third period.
Despite 34 saves, Daniil Tarasov remains winless in seven NHL appearances.
Nyquist, however, tied it 34 seconds later with his first of season with just over 4 minutes remaining in the period.
The Blue Jackets will be back in action at St. Louis on Saturday night.
Tampa Bay 3 1 1 = 5
Columbus 2 0 0 = 2
First Period
CBJ — Johnny Gaudreau (1)—Assists: Justin Danforth (1), Boone Jenner (1), 2:21
TB — Corey Perry (1) (Power Play)—Assists: Vladislav Namestnikov (1), Mikhail Sergachev (1), 14:08
TB — Steven Stamkos (2)—Assists: Alex Killorn (1), Haydn Fleury (1), 15:21
CBJ — Gustav Nyquist (1)—Assists: Kent Johnson (1), Erik Gudbranson (1), 15:55
TB — Ross Colton (1)—Assists: Corey Perry (1), Victor Hedman (1), 18:55 Second Period
TB — Cal Foote (1)—Assists: Ross Colton (1), Vladislav Namestnikov (2), 7:45 Third Period
TB — Steven Stamkos (3)—Assists: Mikhail Sergachev (2), Alex Killorn (2), 7:57
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