Derek Grant scored two objectives, John Gibson made 32 saves and the Geese emphatically snapped a four-game shedding streak with a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night time.
Kevin Shattenkirk and Vinni Lettieri had a aim and an help apiece, and Nicolas Deslauriers added a short-handed, empty-netter for the Geese with 7:37 to play. After back-to-back shutout defeats, the Geese reclaimed sole possession of second place within the Pacific Division by routing the general NHL co-leaders for less than its third win in 12 video games.
Ross Colton scored and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 30 pictures for the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Lightning, whose four-game successful streak ended within the groups’ first assembly since Jan. 31, 2020.
“There’s no query the precise staff gained tonight,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper stated.
Anaheim even did it with out coach Dallas Eakins, who missed the sport after testing optimistic for COVID-19. He joined All-Star Troy Terry, ahead Sonny Milano and key defensemen Cam Fowler and Josh Manson on the COVID shelf for the Geese.
Geese assistant coach Mike Stothers, who turns 60 subsequent month, acquired his first NHL victory whereas working the Geese’ bench within the absence of Eakins and fellow assistants Geoff Ward and Joe Piscotty. Todd Marchant, the Geese’ director of participant growth, stepped behind the bench briefly to assist out.
“I feel all people actually raised their degree, and I feel it was sprinkled all through the lineup,” Stothers stated. “It begins with Gibby in web, and it labored its means out. I couldn’t be extra impressed and extra blissful and extra pleased with the fellows for the best way they rallied and the best way they caught collectively. It was a very good recreation in opposition to a very good hockey membership.”
Tampa Bay’s Corey Perry acquired a number of standing ovations in his first recreation in Anaheim because the Geese purchased out his contract in 2019. The 2011 NHL MVP spent his first 14 seasons in Orange County, scoring 372 objectives and successful the Stanley Cup in 2007 whereas turning into a franchise cornerstone alongside longtime linemate Ryan Getzlaf.
“To be right here to play in entrance of those followers once more, it was fairly particular,” Perry stated. “This was dwelling for 14 years, and to return again, clearly it didn’t go the best way we deliberate, it was an emotional day, however now it’s out of the best way.”
Grant produced his first multi-goal recreation since December 2019 within the Geese’ remaining dwelling recreation earlier than Feb. 11. Hampus Lindholm additionally logged greater than half-hour on protection for the second straight recreation within the absence of Fowler and Manson.
“You’ve acquired guys out of the lineup, and also you want folks to step up,” Gibson stated. “Cam stepped up when Hampus was out, and now it’s vice versa. He’s clearly logging lots of minutes, and we'd like folks to step up. Tonight we acquired lots of contributions from everybody.”
Tampa Bay had gained six of seven to tug even with Florida atop the Atlantic Division, however fell behind 4-0 early within the third interval at Honda Heart. The Lightning went 0 for 7 of their worst energy play efficiency of the season, and Deslauriers scored whereas Vasilevskiy was on the bench to create a 6-on-4 benefit.
“It’s uncommon to see our staff go (0 for 7) on the facility play, however we had some nice appears to be like,” Cooper stated. “We did every little thing however put the puck within the web. We gave ourselves an opportunity, however the gap we dug was too deep.”
The Lightning had a full complement of six defensemen after taking part in with simply 4 blueliners in Los Angeles on Tuesday resulting from accidents and wage cap constraints.
Ahead Ondrej Palat missed his fourth straight recreation with a lower-body harm, which meant Perry might play on the highest line in his first recreation at Honda Heart because the Geese purchased out the final two years of his contract in the summertime of 2019.
Now-departed Geese basic supervisor Bob Murray paid the most important buyout in franchise historical past to chop ties with Perry after he was sluggish to return to kind following main knee surgical procedure. Because the controversial transfer, the Geese have been the second lowest-scoring staff within the NHL, whereas Perry has been a gradual contributor in Dallas, Montreal and Tampa Bay.
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