STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Lightning’s first
step is a stumble
Seth Jones scored the go-ahead goal on the power play to cap Columbus’ three-goal third period, and the Blue Jackets rallied to beat the Lightning 4-3 in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Wednesday night in Tampa, Fla.
Jones made it 4-3 from the slot with 5:55 to play as the Blue Jackets erased a 3-0 deficit after the Lightning scored three times in the opening period.
With Columbus trailing 3-1 in the third, David Savard deked Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and scored 7:56 into the period to make it a one-goal game. Josh Anderson picked up a short-handed goal that tied it at 3 at 11:54 to set things up for Jones’ winner.
The Lightning, who matched the 1995-96 Red Wings for the most wins in a regular season with 62, got first-period goals from Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli and Yanni Gourde.
Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist, and Brock Nelson and Nick Leddy also scored for the Isles. Robin Lehner stopped 41 shots.
On the winning goal, Mathew Barzal brought the puck into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 break, faked in front to draw Murray out and sent a backhand shot that bounced off the left post, but Bailey was there to knock it in.
Pat Maroon sent a backhand pass from behind the net out to Bozak in the slot, and Bozak’s quick shot went by Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck for the go-ahead goal.
David Perron also scored for St. Louis early in the third, and Jordan Binnington made 24 saves. Patrik Laine scored for the Jets.