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Two career firsts for Lightning's Jonathan Marchessault

 
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jonathan Marchessault (42) celebrates scoring his first NHL goal during second period action at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Saturday evening (04/11/15).
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jonathan Marchessault (42) celebrates scoring his first NHL goal during second period action at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Saturday evening (04/11/15).
Published April 12, 2015

TAMPA — A day after recording a four-point night for AHL Syracuse, C Jonathan Marchessault had an even bigger game.

In the fourth NHL appearance of his career, the 24-year-old recorded his first NHL goal and first assist in the Lightning's 3-2 shootout win over the Bruins.

"It was a good moment for me," Marchessault said.

The team recalled Marchessault — Syracuse's leader in assists (41) and points (64) — Saturday to take the spot of LW Jonathan Drouin (illness). He found out about the recall at the rink Saturday morning and had less than two hours to get ready and catch a flight.

Playing in his first NHL game since Oct. 25, Marchessault put the Lightning ahead five minutes into the second period when he found a loose puck and fired it past Boston's Tuukka Rask. "I kind of jumped on it," Marchessault said.

In the third, Marchessault recorded his first career assist on D Nikita Nesterov's goal.

MEDICAL MATTERS: C Vladislav Namestnikov left the game with 6:47 left in the first period. He absorbed a hard shot to the head from Boston D Adam McQuaid, who was called for an illegal check to the head.

Namestnikov was helped off the ice and to the locker room but returned in the second period.

Defensemen Andrej Sustr (upper-body injury) and Jason Garrison (upper body) each missed his sixth consecutive game but participated in the morning skate in red no-contact jerseys. D Braydon Coburn (lower body) again participated in the morning skate in a regular jersey, and C Alex Killorn (undisclosed injury) was limited. Both are day to day and targeting a return for the playoffs' first round, which begins this week.

MILESTONES: The win gave the Lightning two milestones. It was the team's 50th of the season and the 40th for G Ben Bishop, who extended his team season record. "It's nice, obviously," said Bishop, who had 36 saves. "It's a team thing. To get to 40 is pretty cool."

PLAYOFF INTENSITY: Coach Jon Cooper said the Lightning planned to use Saturday's game as a final tuneup for the playoffs. It wanted to match the intensity of the Bruins, who needed a win and help to make the playoffs. They didn't get either. "It's an elimination game for them," Bishop said before the game. "I think it's going to be good practice for us."

NESTEROV'S SHOT: Nesterov has been a key reason the Lightning entered the game with power-play goals in its previous five games. Nesterov, who filled in when D Victor Hedman was out, brought a different shooters mentality, resulting in his goal and assist in the two previous games. "He gets his shot through," Cooper said. "He's got the mentality, 'I'm shooting.' I think our guys have (fed) off that. Now we're really cramming the net, because they understand that pucks are going to get there."

ICE CHIPS: Limited tickets were still available for the first round of the playoffs. … RW Brett Connolly played his first game at Amalie Arena since the Lightning traded him to the Bruins in March. … Amalie Arena was in playoff form, with a Stanley Cup playoffs logo emblazoned on the ice. "They should be proud of it," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I would be."