Hedman, Kucherov propel streaking Lightning past Kings 6-4

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Victor Hedman and the Tampa Bay Lightning discovered a novel approach to break up the monotony that may be the center of the NHL common season.

Hedman had two objectives and an help in Tuesday evening’s 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings regardless of being considered one of solely 4 Tampa Bay defensemen who dressed after three have been scratched as a result of accidents.

The 2018 Norris Trophy winner, who has been a finalist for the NHL’s prime defenseman award 5 straight seasons, mentioned he had hassle napping earlier than the sport as a result of it was going to be difficult.

“It was one thing new. You knew you have been going to be on the market each different shift,” Hedman mentioned. “In an 82-game season, you want these challenges. It was enjoyable to see what you would do with solely 4 guys.

“You possibly can take a look at it and really feel sorry for your self or take a look at it as a possibility. We tried to maintain it so simple as doable and acquired a giant two factors.”

Hedman noticed 32:37 of ice time, his most in a regular-season sport that has not gone to extra time. He additionally prolonged his level streak to 4 video games (one objective, 5 assists) because the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions pushed their successful streak to 4.

“He simply thrives when he's requested to do extra. He gave an outstanding efficiency to assist the win,” fellow defenseman Ryan McDonagh mentioned.

Hedman scored his first objective since Dec. 16 at 13:17 of the primary interval when he retrieved an errant move within the Kings zone and beat Cal Petersen glove aspect on a breakaway.

Hedman then scored the go-ahead objective at 10:43 of the third when he took Nikita Kucherov’s move and scored on a snap shot to present the Lightning a 4-3 lead. It was the ninth multigoal sport of Hedman’s profession, and considered one of three third-period objectives by Tampa Bay that put the sport away.

“I believe he’s one of many prime 5 gamers within the Nationwide Hockey League, not simply tonight however each evening I activate the TV,“ Kings coach Todd McClellan mentioned. ”Six-foot-six and play like that, and he had a big impact on the sport. Performed probably the most minutes of anyone and performed one of the best out of everyone.”

Los Angeles Kings left wing Alex Iafallo, left, slides into Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy as he tries to attain throughout the second interval of an NHL hockey sport Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Los Angeles.

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Kucherov prolonged his scoring tear with a power-play objective within the second interval together with an help. The appropriate wing, who missed 32 video games with a lower-body damage that required surgical procedure, has 11 factors (4 objectives, seven assists) in six video games since returning to the lineup.

Mathieu Joseph and Steven Stamkos additionally had a objective and an help apiece for the Lightning, who've a 10-game successful streak over the Kings. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare additionally scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 photographs.

“The massive factor for us is we couldn’t flip it over. It was pivotal within the second interval to get pucks deep so we may get our defensemen off,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper mentioned.

Blake Lizotte, Alex Iafallo, Arthur Kaliyev and Phillip Danault scored for the Kings, who've dropped two straight after a four-game successful streak. Petersen made 19 saves.

“That’s type of what we anticipated was gonna occur, a type of back-and-forth type of sport,” Iafallo mentioned. “However when that occurs, you’ve simply acquired to type of pack it in and take your possibilities and get higher possibilities. However we’ll need to regroup and we’ll be nice.”

NIFTY GOAL

Lizotte tied it 1-all at 8:52 of the second when he acquired the puck from Brayden Level within the nook, skated in and went prime shelf on Vasilevskiy.

SPECIAL TEAMS FLURRY

Every staff had a short-handed and power-play objective in a span of lower than 4 1/2 minutes throughout the second interval.

Iafallo acquired his first profession short-handed objective at 11:44 when he took benefit of a turnover close to Tampa Bay’s web. The Lightning tied it, although, at 13:03 on Kucherov’s one-timer from the suitable circle.

Tampa Bay took a 3-2 lead with a short-handed objective of its personal when Bellemare took Joseph’s move, deked to his backhand and acquired Petersen out of place at 14:40. Kaliyev evened it with the person benefit at 16:06 when his wrist shot deflected off Hedman’s stick and in.

It was the primary time since Boston confronted St. Louis in December 2008 that each groups had a power-play objective and a short-handed objective in the identical interval.

Los Angeles is tied for fourth within the NHL with 5 short-handed objectives.

UP NEXT

Lightning: Stay in Southern California to face Anaheim on Friday evening.

Kings: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday evening earlier than taking part in the following eight scheduled video games on the highway.

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