For forty minutes, the Tampa Bay Lightning were going about their business and pressing their way to a workman-like victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Then, for fifteen minutes, they lost the plot and saw their 4-0 lead trimmed to just a goal after Cole Sillinger chipped a shot under the bar on the power play. That would be as close as the determined visitors would get as the Lightning righted the ship in time and Brayden Point capped things off with an empty-net goal to provide the 5-3 final score.
With the memories of the wild 7-6 overtime loss to Columbus last month still fresh in their heads, the Lightning came out and dominated the first two periods of play, building a 4-0 lead and controlling the action with an impressive 81.