Brayden Level scores twice as Lightning win fifth recreation in a row – Tampa Bay Occasions

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Brayden Level scored two objectives, Nikita Kucherov had 4 assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday night time for his or her fifth straight win.
The Lightning, at the moment on a five-game highway journey, prolonged their lead for the highest wild-card spot within the Jap Convention to 4 factors over the Purple Wings.
Level broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play objective 34 seconds into the third interval, scoring on the rebound from point-blank off a shot by Kucherov. It was Level’s 14th objective in his final 15 video games. Kucherov, who leads the NHL with 122 factors, prolonged his help streak to 12 video games, the longest in franchise historical past.
Tampa Bay picked up the power within the third interval with three unanswered objectives, responding after “falling into that entice” within the first two intervals, as captain Steven Stamkos stated. Within the locker room previous to the third interval, Stamkos stated the message was: “Hear, these factors are too invaluable for our group right now of the 12 months, irrespective of who we’re taking part in.”
“And I assumed we responded rather well within the third,” Stamkos stated. “Clearly, massive two factors for us.”
Anthony Duclair, who was traded to the Lightning from the Sharks on the deadline, prolonged the result in 3-1 at 6:50 of the third interval. Level then added his fortieth objective of the season on a spectacular move from Kucherov, who delivered a no-look feed from behind the objective line whereas on his knees battling for a free puck.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper stated that Level has been “a heck of a participant for us for a very long time.”
“That’s a particular mark,” Cooper stated on Level reaching 40 objectives. “Not loads of guys get to that yearly.”
Nick Paul additionally scored for Tampa Bay, and William Ecklund had San Jose’s objective.
Andrei Vasilevskiy had 21 saves for the Lightning. Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, coming back from a three-week absence resulting from a groin harm, made 17 saves. He did take a puck to the masks that knocked it off, and was being evaluated after the sport with what Sharks coach David Quinn described as an upper-body harm.
The Sharks misplaced their sixth straight and have only one win of their final 16 video games, returning residence after a winless five-game highway journey. Tampa Bay improved to 9-1-1 within the final 10 conferences with San Jose.
The Lightning scored 5 minutes into the sport, profiting from an odd bounce when a move by Victor Hedman off the again boards caromed straight to Paul in entrance.
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Eklund tied the rating minutes later, ending a two-on-one break after a turnover at heart ice.
“I actually preferred our first two intervals,” Quinn stated. “I assumed we managed the puck rather well, defended onerous. We performed a extremely good recreation. After which they get the power-play objective to begin the third after which we get demoralized and we get a bit sloppy.”
Duclair returned to San Jose days after being dealt from his former membership, scoring his fourth objective in 5 video games with the Lightning for his fourth Twentieth-goal season of his profession.
“I had a good time right here,” Duclair stated. “The fellows had been nice and it was good to see some acquainted faces. Enjoying any outdated crew is fairly particular and a bit extra motivation for positive.”
By ERIC HE, Related Press
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