Lightning 7, Coyotes 3
Nikita Kucherov recorded his first career hat trick and linemate Tyler Johnson collected four assists as Tampa Bay opened its four-game homestand by defeating Arizona.
Brian Boyle netted a pair of goals while defenseman Matt Carle and Valtteri Filppula also scored for the Lightning, who have posted seven goals twice in their opening 10 games. Ben Bishop turned aside 22 shots for his fifth victory in seven decisions for Tampa Bay.
Captain Shane Doan and B.J. Crombeen each notched their first goal of the season while Martin Erat also tallied for the Coyotes, who are 1-3-1 in their last five contests. Former Tampa Bay goaltender Mike Smith allowed six goals on 33 shots before being relieved by Devan Dubnyk, who made one save in just over 10 1/2 minutes in the third period.
Kucherov’s deflection of a shot by defenseman Radko Gudas 7:46 into the game opened the scoring and Filppula pounded home a rebound at the right side of the net at 12:18. Kucherov scooped in a rebound 3:20 into the second for a 3-0 lead, but Doan answered with a backhander from in close with 5:53 left in the session.
Boyle lifted a backhand shot over Smith’s glove after a steal in the slot 3:25 later before Erat banked the puck off Lightning forward Alex Killorn’s skate and into the net from below the end line with 1:08 left in the second. Kucherov completed the hat trick on a one-timer from the slot off a nifty feed from Johnson 8:23 into the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson extended his career-best point and assist streaks to seven games and has collected a team-leading 12 points in the first 10 games of the season. … Arizona C Antoine Vermette reached 400 points in his career with an assist on Doan’s goal. … Tampa Bay RW Ryan Callahan missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury, but coach Jon Cooper said he could play by the end of the week.