{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Tampa Bay 8, Carolina 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, November 24, 2023
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Referees: Cody Beach, Frederick L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: Kyle Flemington, Jonny Murray
Attendance: 18802

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in his return and the Tampa Bay Lightning received a hat trick from Brayden Point in an 8-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Nikita Kucherov scored two goals to go with four assists and Point had two assists for Tampa Bay, which has a five-game point streak.

Steven Stamkos, Brandon Hagel and Luke Glendening also scored. Hagel had two assists.

The Lightning had three power-play goals in the first six minutes of the second period on the way to exceeding six goals in a game for the first time this season.

Stefan Noesen and Michael Bunting had Carolina's goals, but the Hurricanes lost for just the second time in eight home games this season. Antti Raanta made only six saves on 14 shots just two nights after leaving after one period because of a health concern.

Vasilevskiy hadn't played an NHL game since April because of offseason back surgery. He got the call as Tampa Bay began a stretch of three straight road games. He's a two-time Stanley Cup winner and 2021 playoff MVP, with the Lightning announcing earlier in the day that he would be in the nets in Raleigh.

The Lightning put only one shot on Raanta in the first period. The tone changed quickly in the second.

Point's night gave him 11 goals for the season. He had two of Tampa Bay's three goals in the final 10 minutes of the game, with Kucherov scoring the other.

Kucherov has a team-high 15 goals.

Stamkos scored his ninth goal of the season off a pass from Point. Stamkos has a goal in four straight games, and he added an assist late.

Kucherov scored next at 5:40 of the second on a slap shot. Fourteen seconds later, Point had his first goal of the night.

Noesen's goal was his third in five games and his fifth of the season. He benefited from Jack Drury's pass from behind the net.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Tampa Bay   Carolina
Nikita Kucherov 6 Points Michael Bunting 2
Brayden Point 3 Goals Michael Bunting 1
Nikita Kucherov 4 Assists Michael Bunting 1
Brayden Point 2 Power Play Goals Michael Bunting 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Andrei Vasilevskiy .917 Save Percentage Antti Raanta .429
Andrei Vasilevskiy 22 Saves Antti Raanta 6
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Tampa Bay 14 8 4-5 5-6 34 23
Carolina 24 2 1-6 1-5 22 33
Upcoming Games
  • Carolina will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .714 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Lightning have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .545 after a loss.