Game Three final score: Lightning 5, Stars 2
Lightning lead series 2-1
By Nathan Tucker
nrtucker@lc.edu
In game two of the Stanley Cup Final, the Tampa Bay Lightning looked overpowered on offense, albeit for one period. In game three, Tampa got their captain and constant goal threat, Steven Stamkos, back from injury.
His presence was immediately felt, as he scored in the first period, in his first NHL game in 210 days. Stamkos, while still getting adjusted to the “bubble hockey” world, looked great on the ice for his first game in what feels like an eon.
An earlier goal from leading Lightning scorer, Nikita Kucherov, had them ahead 2-0 in seven minutes of game time; and after a Dallas goal by Jason Dickinson, Tampa took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Not just dominant in the first period, like game two, the Lightning tallied three more in the second and put the game beyond doubt. A Miro Heiskanen goal in the third for Dallas wasn’t even enough to inspire hope of a comeback.
Dallas continued their physical game with 59 hits in total, but Tampa has proven they can hang in there and grind it out just as well as score the goals.
It might take a minor miracle for the Stars to turn this series around.
Tampa goal scorers:
Nikita Kucherov (7)
Steven Stamkos (1)
Victor Hedman (10)
Brayden Point (11)
Ondrej Palat (10)
Dallas goal scorers:
Jason Dickinson (2)
Miro Heiskanen (6)
