Lightning 5, Flames 2
Rookie Cedric Paquette scored his first two NHL goals as Tampa Bay defeated Calgary to complete a perfect four-game homestand.
Brian Boyle netted a short-handed goal, Tyler Johnson also tallied and Valtteri Filppula scored into an empty net for the Lightning, who never trailed while improving to 6-1-1 on home ice. Ben Bishop turned aside 29 shots and has helped earn at least a point in nine of his 10 starts (8-1-1).
Jiri Hudler and Sean Monahan recorded goals while captain Mark Giordano added a pair of assists for the Flames, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Jonas Hiller made 28 saves en route to his first regulation loss in his last eight starts.
Paquette battled his way in front to wrap a shot around Hiller 9:55 into the game, but Hudler tied it with a blast high to the stick side of Bishop from the right faceoff circle during a rush at 15:22. Paquette put the Lightning ahead 61 seconds into the second session, turning to whip a shot under Hiller from close range.
Boyle stole the puck before knocking home his own rebound on a breakaway at 4:02, but Monahan answered by burying a rebound in the slot 20 seconds later. Johnson pushed Tampa Bay’s lead to 4-2 only 40 seconds into the third period, knocking home a shot from the slot after receiving a nifty pass by Nikita Kucherov from below the end line.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Paquette became the third Lightning player to score his first two career goals in the same game, joining C Steven Stamkos and D Mark Barberio. … Calgary's TJ Brodie played his 200th NHL game while fellow D Ladislav Smid sat out with an undisclosed injury but is expected to return Saturday at Florida. … The Lightning are 6-0-1 when leading after two periods.