The Tampa Bay Lightning put their three-game losing streak to bed by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 4-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The win gives the Bolts 85 points on the season. They’re tied with Florida and they’re just one point behind the Bruins for top spot in the division.
The news wasn’t all good for the Lightning, as they lost forwards Valterri Filppula (first period) and Nikita Kucherov (second period) to injury. The Bolts, who dressed 11 forwards on Sunday, were forced to play a with nine forwards for a good chunk of this game.
Kucherov was hurt after being on the receiving end of a Dalton Prout sucker punch (below).
@prouter5 of @Col_BlueJackets #Cheapshot Artist @NHL suspend him @TBLightning @tkraz @620wdae @RealStamkos91 pic.twitter.com/gGrmon7AfP
— Bill Short (@URHandpieceGuy) March 13, 2016
Lightning head coach John Cooper didn’t have an update on his injured players, but he didn’t expect them to be out long-term.
Cooper didn't have an update on Kucherov or Filppula. Doesn't think long term concern but will know more later #TBLightning
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) March 13, 2016
On the ice, the Bolts were led by their captain, Steven Stamkos. The 26-year-old scored two goals including the third shorthanded marker of his career.
He also picked up an assist on Ondrej Palat’s shorthanded goal a few minutes later.
Stamkos now has 31 goals and 55 points in 2015-16. It’s the fifth time in his career that he’s hit the 30-goal mark.
