Stamkos Scores Hat Trick and Kucherov Shines as Lightning Dominate Blue Jackets

Tuesday, April 9th, 2024

Steven Stamkos delivered an outstanding performance with three goals and one assist, propelling the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Nikita Kucherov continued his impressive form by notching up three assists in his fourth straight game, contributing to the total of three points. The game's deadlock was broken in the third period by Anthony Cirelli, setting the stage for Stamkos's late game-sealing goal.

By recording his 13th career hat trick, Stamkos set a record for the Tampa Bay Lightning by scoring multiple goals in three consecutive games and joined the ranks of six NHL players over the age of 34 to accomplish such a feat.

Another goal came from Brayden Point, while goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy secured the win by saving 30 shots. Kucherov's assists in this game took his season total to 139 points, including 96 assists.

On the Columbus side, Kirill Marchenko managed to find the net twice, pushing his recent tally to five goals across six games. The Blue Jackets' goalie, Jet Greaves, ended the game with 28 saves.

The team’s captain, Boone Jenner, remains absent due to personal tragedy, at a time when Columbus finds itself positioned at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and with eight of its players sidelined due to injuries.

Stamkos's goal streak reached six games as he notched an equalizer during a power play, while Marchenko briefly put Columbus ahead with a power-play goal of his own.

Both Point and Marchenko scored in the initial period, and Tampa Bay managed to further its stat as the league-leading team in power play effectiveness shortly into the second period.

Looking ahead, the Blue Jackets are scheduled to play against Florida on Thursday, whereas the Lightning will be hosting

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Columbus Blue Jackets Game Stats

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