Senators prevail in Boucher's return to Tampa
TAMPA, Fla. -- Mark Stone helped ensure his coach's return to his first NHL home proved fruitful.
Mark Stone scored twice and added an assist as Ottawa defeated Tampa Bay 5-2 at Amalie Arena on Thursday in the first game for Senators coach Guy Boucher in Tampa since he was fired toward the end of the 2013 season.
Boucher, who led the Lightning to the 2011 Eastern Conference finals, compiled a 97-79-20 record in two-plus seasons behind the Tampa Bay bench.
Erik Karlsson had three assists while Kyle Turris and Mike Hoffman each had a goal and assist.
Mike Condon finished with 19 saves.
Tyler Johnson and Brayden Point scored for the Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy finished with 25 saves.
For the second consecutive game, Tampa Bay opened the scoring early in the second period as the Lightning took advantage of an Ottawa turnover. Johnson pressured Curtis Lazar between the circles in the Senators' zone, forcing the puck to Nikita Kucherov, who fed it back to Johnson at the top of the crease. Though Condon stopped Johnson's initial chance, Johnson was there for the rebound and popped the puck in the net for his 16th of the season at 3:39 of the period.
But for the second consecutive game, the Lighting sagged after taking the lead and the Senators took advantage, getting even shortly after the Johnson goal. Zack Smith worked the puck down low and fought off Jason Garrison to get a puck to the front of the net. Stone found the open spot at the crease and was able to tap the puck in at 6:33 to tie the game.
Ottawa took the lead at 11:03 when Turris fired a wrist shot from the left circle that went in off the glove of Vasilevskiy for the first Senators' power play goal of the net to carry a 2-1 lead in to the third period.
The Lightning misfired on a power play chance early in the third and then when Ondrej Palat was called for goaltender interference, Ottawa capitalized 30 seconds into the man advantage when Hoffman drilled a one-timer from the center slot off a feed from Turris at 2:53.
Point pulled Tampa Bay to within a goal once again when he deflected a Brian Boyle wrist shot from the point and beat Condon five-hole for his second goal in as many games at 7:46 to give the Lightning some life. But Ottawa snatched it right away once again as Stone tipped an Erik Karlsson shot to regain the two-goal lead at 9:22.
Chris Kelly, playing in his 800th career game, added an empty net goal with 24.4 seconds left.
NOTES: Ottawa assistant coach Martin Raymond served as an assistant with the Lightning under Guy Boucher from 2010 to 2013. ... Tampa Bay D Andrej Sustr was a healthy scratch for the second time this season. ... Lightning LW Michael Bournival missed his third consecutive game with an undisclosed upper-body injury but took part in the optional morning skate while wearing a no-contact jersey. ... Ottawa G Mike Condon appeared in his 26th consecutive game. ... The Senators scratched G Craig Anderson, RW Chris Neil and D Fredrik Claesson. ... Tampa Bay D Luke Witkowski returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous three games.