Anton Forsberg made 24 saves and was perfect in the shootout as the Senators struck the Lightning, 3-2.
Sometimes the difference in an NHL game is which team had the best player on the ice. On Thursday, Brady Tkachuk went head-to-head with Hart Trophy candidate Nikita Kucherov and won. Kucherov was marvellous on the night, but Tkachuk was everywhere – scoring, playmaking and being a thorn in the Lightning's side as the Ottawa Senators won 3-2 in a shootout road win over the Tampa Bay Lighting.
Tkachuk ended his night with a goal, an assist and the shootout winner.
He did have some help as Anton Forsberg was outstanding, making 24 saves, many of them with a hot glove hand. In tandem with the win, the Senators won the season series 3-1 against the Lightning.
Refreshingly, the Senators had their first strong start in a while. Tkachuk led the way, scoring off a beautiful stretch pass from Jakob Chychrun. Tkachuk scored five-hole and tied his career high in goals. Even in another subpar season for the team, Tkachuk still managed to score 35 goals, demonstrating the kind of player he is and what he still might be capable of in better days.
Amazingly, it was the first time in their last seven games that the Senators opened the scoring and had a lead – a testament to the team's general dysfunction and lack of maturity.
As the Senators have all season they gave up a quick goal immediately following a goal. Conor Sheary tied the game at one, a minute after Tkachuk gave the Sens the lead.
The Lightning struck twice, when Brayden Point made it 2-1 Tampa after Jake Sanderson had turned the puck over behind his net to Nikita Kucherov.
In the second period, the Senators kept the pressure on the Lightning. However, they first were tasked with killing a 5 on 3 for 1:02, which they did, with Forsberg making quality saves.
The Sens almost tied the game on the penalty kill when Ridly Greig stole the puck, leading to a 2 on 0 with Mathieu Joseph. Greig slid over the puck to Joseph who bobbled it and couldn't cash in, then smashed his stick on the boards as he headed to the bench.
The Senators had their own chances on the power play but were unable to convert. They were given a 5 on 3 to start the third period and just as it ended, Drake Batherson scored a beautiful goal, jamming home a second chance at the side of the net to tie the game 2-2. With the goal, Batherson reached a career high with 63 points on the season.
Joseph earned his second Grade A opportunity on the penalty kill when Jacob Bernard-Docker sent him in all alone on a breakaway but Matt Tomkins made a big blocker save to deny Joseph.
The snake-bitten Joseph was not done creating chances as Claude Giroux silkily led Joseph in tight with Tomkins. Joseph spun around, hitting the post with a shot, the rebound then went right to Ridly Greig who had an open net but his shot was blocked by Matt Dumba.
Both teams were unable to score for the remainder of the third period.
Overtime brought fireworks, with both teams trading chances. The best chance fell to Brayden Point who was robbed, point-blank, with an unbelievable diving glove save by Forsberg. Point looked to the heavens, wondering how he did not score. After a hellacious overtime, the score remained tied.
In the shootout, Brady Tkachuk continued his heater of a night with a dipsy dangle backhand over Tomkins, and that ended up being the only goal of the shootout.
The Senators demonstrated their potential against one of the best teams in the league in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Oh, what this team could have been if they consistently played at the level they displayed on Thursday night.
The Senators return home for their last home game of the season against their bitter rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Saturday night.