Lightning 3, Blue Jackets 2
Defenseman Eric Brewer recorded his third career two-goal performance and Kristers Gudlevskis turned aside 36 shots in his NHL debut as Tampa Bay held off visiting Columbus.
Ondrej Palat scored his 23rd goal and Cedric Paquette notched an assist in his first NHL game for the Lightning, who moved one point ahead of Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division. Gudlevskis became the first goaltender in history to play in the ECHL, the American Hockey League, the Olympics and the NHL in the same season.
Boone Jenner recorded a goal and an assist while defenseman David Savard scored with 3:23 left in the third period to bring the Blue Jackets within 3-2. Curtis McElhinney made 19 saves for Columbus, which remained even in points with Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division - although the Flyers have a game in hand and own the tiebreaker.
Gudlevskis stopped 14 shots in a scoreless first period and Palat moved down the slot to knock in Alex Killorn's feed during a power play 3:55 into the second for a 1-0 lead. Jenner converted with the man advantage at 13:46 to tie it, redirecting defenseman Jack Johnson's shot past Gudlevskis.
Brewer put the Lightning ahead for good, wristing a shot from just above the left faceoff circle over McElhinney’s right shoulder 68 seconds later. The veteran added his second tally with 1:54 left in the middle period, whipping a shot that hit McElhinney high and trickled behind him for a 3-1 lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Lightning matched the franchise record for wins at home in a single season (25). … Tampa Bay D Matt Carle skated in his 600th career game. … The Blue Jackets announced RW Nathan Horton underwent surgery for an abdominal injury on Friday and is expected to be sidelined about six weeks. … Tampa Bay C Valtteri Filppula (lower body) and D Sami Salo (upper body) sat out while D Victor Hedman left in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return.