The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Thursday night, with defenseman John Carlson scoring twice to extend the home team’s win streak to three games. Carlson’s two goals marked the 11th multi-goal game of his career, and Nikita Kucherov set up both of Carlson’s scores while finishing with two assists.
Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring just 5:26 into the first period with a deflection. John Carlson scored 36 seconds later, then Quinn Hughes cut it to 2-1. Carlson added his second goal at 4:55 of the second period, and Blake Coleman answered with a power-play goal for Minnesota with 5:59 left in the period.
Key Moments That Decided The Game
Tampa Bay built its lead early and never trailed. Cirelli’s deflection goal at 5:26 of the first period put the Lightning ahead, and Carlson doubled the advantage 36 seconds later with a wrist shot from the right point.
Minnesota cut the deficit to 2-1 when Quinn Hughes scored at 2:32 of the second period on a wrist shot through traffic, assisted by Bobby Brink and Jared Spurgeon. Spurgeon’s assist extended his point streak to four straight games to start the season, matching a franchise record for defensemen previously set twice by Ryan Suter. Hughes also matched that mark with his own four-game season-opening point streak.
Carlson restored Tampa Bay’s two-goal cushion at 4:55 of the second period, firing a one-timer off a Kucherov feed. The goal also snapped the Lightning’s 0-for-14 power-play drought to open the season. Minnesota answered with 5:59 left in the second period when Blake Coleman scored on the power play off the rush, but the Wild could not find an equalizer in the third period, which went scoreless for both sides.
Top Performers From Both Teams
Carlson led all players with two goals. Kucherov added two assists, and Dennis Hildeby made 34 saves.
For Minnesota, Quinn Hughes had a goal and an assist, and Blake Coleman scored on the power play. Wallstedt made 32 saves.
What It Means For Both Teams
The win improved Tampa Bay to 3-1-0, tying the Lightning with Ottawa atop the Atlantic Division with six points. Minnesota fell to 2-1-1, sitting third in the Central Division with five points, tied with Nashville.
Minnesota played without defenseman Olli Maatta (lower-body injury) and forward Nick Foligno (upper-body injury).
What’s Next For Both Teams
The Wild travel to Florida on Saturday night. The Lightning visit the New York Islanders on Saturday.
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