Red-hot Nikita Kucherov leads Lightning by Flyers for 10th straight win
Nikita Kucherov registered multiple points for the ninth straight game and the Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 5-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.
It was a successful trip to the City of Brotherly Love for the Lightning, who posted a 7-2 win in Philadelphia on Saturday before coasting to another comfortable victory.
On a team loaded with stars, the headliner continues to be Kucherov, who extended his point streak to 10 games with a second-period assist before tacking on an empty-net goal in the third.
Brandon Hagel scored for the fourth straight game, while Pontus Holmberg, Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point also tallied for Tampa Bay. Jonas Johansson finished with 20 saves for the visitors, helping coach Jon Cooper record his 600th career victory.
Dan Vladar made 21 saves and Christian Dvorak scored the lone goal for Philadelphia, which will certainly be glad to conclude its season series with Tampa Bay. The Flyers lost the three matchups with the Lightning by a combined score of 15-3.
Tampa Bay opened the scoring just 1:10 into the game when Holmberg rammed home a loose puck in front of Vladar.
That was the only goal of the frame, but the second period featured a similar story. Guentzel scored just 33 seconds into the period when Erik Cernak's shot from the point ricocheted off his leg and into the net.
About four minutes later, the Lightning extended their lead to 3-0 as Point deposited a rebound for a power-play tally.
Dvorak brought Philadelphia within 3-1 just over a minute later, scoring on a 2-on-1 rush. However, the Lightning answered in the final minute of the period on Hagel's wrister from the top of the left circle.
After a penalty-free first period, things got chippy over the final two stanzas. The officials whistled 10 penalties, including five roughing minors, in the second period. The third period featured 11 more penalties, including four fighting majors and two game misconducts.