{coyotes} Kucherov hat trick leads Lightning past Coyotes

Tuesday 28 October 2014

{coyotes} Kucherov hat trick leads Lightning past Coyotes

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TAMPA -- Nikita Kucherov's first career hat trick helped the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Arizona Coyotes 7-3 on Tuesday at Amalie Arena.

Brian Boyle had two goals, Tyler Johnson had four assists, and Matthew Carle and Valtteri Filppula each scored once for the Lightning (6-3-1), who opened their four-game homestand on a positive note following a 3-2-0 road trip.

Kucherov gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 7:46 of the first period when he redirected a long slap shot from defenseman Radko Gudas between Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's pads.

The 21-year-old, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round (No. 58) in 2011, lifted a backhand shot over a sprawling Smith to give the Lightning a 3-0 lead 3:20 into the second period.

Kucherov completed the hat trick when he took a centering pass from Johnson and sent a one-timer past Smith for a 5-2 Lightning lead at 8:23 of the third period. Eric Brewer had the second assist on the goal, which was Kucherov's fourth.

Arizona (3-4-1) pulled within two goals twice in the second period. Shane Doan scored his first goal of the season when he sent a rebound past Lightning goalie Ben Bishop following a point shot by Michael Stone to close the gap to 3-1 with 5:53 left in the second period.

After Boyle's first goal gave the Lightning a 4-1 lead, Martin Erat made it 4-2 with 1:08 left in the second when his wraparound shot deflected off Bishop's skate into the back of the net.

B.J.Crombeen scored a third-period goal for the Coyotes. Smith made 27 saves before he was pulled in the third period; backup Devan Dubnyk surrendered Carle's goal on one of the two shots he faced in 10:34.

Bishop made 22 saves for the Lightning, who will host the Flyers on Thursday. The Coyotes will visit the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

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