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Lightning-Rangers: Rewinding Tampa Bay’s seventh consecutive win

Anthony Cirelli scored in a third consecutive game and Erik Cernak engaged in the first fight of his NHL career.
 
Published Dec. 11, 2018|Updated Dec. 11, 2018

TAMPA – Taking the franchise lead in hat trick's made Lightning captain Steven Stamkos the center of attention Monday.

But don't forget about Anthony Cirelli. Not for a second. He actually scored the game-winning goal in the Lightning's 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Amalie Arena. Cirelli also scored an empty-net goal to secure the victory.

"The way he plays, he can drag the team into the fight," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It's hard to go out onto the next shift and follow his shift and not give that same type of effort."

It's that same effort, Cooper said, that helped Cirelli get out of a nine-game scoring slump. Over those games, Cirelli didn't tally a single point. Over the past three games, he has scored at least one goal with four total. He also scored the game-winning goal against the Bruins.

"You've got to remember, he only maybe played 30 games last year," Cooper said. "He is still a long way away from even getting a full season in. He is learning the league as well. He is learning what he can and can't do. The good student he is, he knows what he can do now. His confidence is way up and he is deserving everything he is getting."

Confident and successful. Two words that could describe Cirelli and the Lightning now that they have won seven consecutive games.

Here are some odds and ends from Monday's win over the Rangers:

  • Erik Cernak showed he is no passive rookie. With 4:43 left in the third period, the defenseman engaged in a fight with Rangers left wing Matt Beleskey. At one point, he swung his left arm at Beleskey three straight times. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh said Lightning players were surprised that Cernak faired as strong as he did because it was his first fight.

Said McDonagh: "When he plays with that physicality, he knows he is probably going to get challenged at times. So it is great to see him step up there and hold his ground."

Said Cooper: "Beleskey knows what he's doing, so I am not sure (Cernak) knew who he was getting involved with. But he didn't back down. And he handled himself extremely well. At some point, that's going to happen. Not sure he had to pick that guy, but it was good for him. He was showing no fear."

  • Speaking of McDonagh, the long-time Ranger scored his first goal against New York since Tampa Bay traded for him last spring. He said he was not trying to shoot to score but trying to create a rebound. He will take the goal, though. Especially against Henrik Lundqvist.

"He's a tremendous goaltender obviously," McDonagh said. "I was just, more importantly, happy to get us the lead here at home."

  • The hits keep coming. D Dan Girardi made his 2000th career hit. He came into the game three short of the mark and had exactly three in the first period. Girardi has played 879 (788 of which came with the Rangers).
  • The seven-game win streak ranks third all-time for the Lightning. The longest win streak in Lightning history is nine games.
  • Louis Domingue allowed three goals on 26 shots faced. He improved to 14-4 overall. He made several timely saves, including two against Marc Staal in the third period.
  • Perfection continues against the Metropolitan Division. With the win, the Lightning improved to 9-0-0 this season, previously defeating New Jersey (three times), the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus, Carolina.
  • ‘Tis the season. The Lightning went seasonal with its intro on Monday. Organist Krystof Srebrakowski played ‘Carol of the Bells’ accompanied by a series of Christmas-y graphics reminiscent of a Trans-Siberian Orchestra light show.