Kucherov Rings Iron, Then Finds Twine as Lightning Down Canucks
Lankinen faced a steady barrage in Tampa and kept Vancouver within reach far longer than the chances suggested.
The final said 4-2, but this one was never as close as the scoreboard made it look. Tampa Bay had the puck pointed at Vancouver's net all night, and the Canucks' best player was the man trying to keep it out.
The Lightning outshot Vancouver 35-14, and their chances were worth roughly five goals by expected goals (how many goals a team's chances would normally produce): 4.99 to 1.58. Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves and stopped 12 of the 13 most dangerous looks he saw, which is a big reason the Canucks still had a pulse late.
Nikita Kucherov led the charge with two goals on seven shots, and also rang a post. Pontus Holmberg scored and got the best chances of any skater. Tampa hit iron three times in all, with Ilya Mikheyev and Vancouver's Drew O'Connor joining Kucherov.
For Vancouver, Elias Pettersson and Linus Karlsson scored, but on a night this lopsided, two goals was about all their chances earned.
