TAMPA — Wing Nikita Kucherov couldn't help but flash a smile at his luck Thursday.
"I never had this kind of bounces in my life," he said.
The Lightning believed it was hurt by some bad breaks in back-to-back home losses in the past week. But Thursday's flip in fortune in a 2-1 win over the Hurricanes at Amalie Arena might have made up for it. Kucherov scored twice, including the winner with 31 seconds left when his pass to Tyler Johnson went in off the skate of Carolina's Ron Hainsey. Kucherov's first goal, also in the third period, came when an Anton Stralman dump-in ricocheted off the stanchion and into the crease.
"I'm a true believer you just keep working in the structure, keep pounding away, eventually you'll work your breaks," coach Jon Cooper said. "We worked two (Thursday), and we needed them both."
It was a big win for Tampa Bay (19-8-3), which plays 11 of its next 15 on the road beginning Saturday. Most of the joy in the Lightning room postgame was for backup goalie Evgeni Nabokov, who was sharp again in a 29-save effort. Tampa Bay hasn't often played well in front of the 39-year-old in his seven starts, six of which have come in a back-to-back situation.
"The rhythm was kind of there, right from the beginning," Nabokov said. "The boys helped me out."
Nabokov was at his best in the first with 10 saves, as well as when the Lightning had to kill a Radko Gudas penalty with four minutes left in a 1-1 game. "Big-time kill," Cooper said.
The Lightning needed all the luck it could get against Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward, who was spectacular in making 25 saves. Valtteri Filppula, who had a season-high four shots, was robbed three times. Steven Stamkos hit the post twice.
"I was thinking, 'Why can't we ever score a goal when 'Nabby' is in net?' " Stamkos said.
It took 46-plus minutes, but Tampa Bay finally did. On a power play, Stralman flipped the puck innocently into the right corner. But it took a wacky bounce back toward the crease. "Terrible break," Hainsey said.
Kucherov was stunned the puck was coming his way, and a little nervous about landing on a blooper reel because it was rolling. "I didn't want to go on the YouTube or somewhere," he said.
The Hurricanes got a break on their goal, a Justin Faulk point shot that deflected in off Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman with 7:57 left. But Kucherov's pass that turned into a goal gave Tampa Bay the weird bounce it needed.
As Nabokov fittingly put it: "(Stuff) happens."
Contact Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTImes_JSmith.
Lightning | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Hurricanes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
First Period—None. Penalties—Gleason, Car (high-sticking), 6:12; Morrow, TB (interference), 6:12; Filppula, TB (hooking), 8:24; Garrison, TB (cross-checking), 13:16.
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Explore all your optionsSecond Period—None. Penalties—Sustr, TB (hooking), :32; Jordan, Car (holding), 13:41.
Third Period—1, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 10 (Stralman, Nabokov), 6:35 (pp). 2, Carolina, Faulk 5 (Nash, Sekera), 12:03. 3, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 11 (Killorn, Carle), 19:29. Penalties—Nash, Car (tripping), 5:17; Gudas, TB (delay of game), 15:59. Shots on Goal—Carolina 10-11-9—30. Tampa Bay 11-11-5—27. Power-play opportunities—Carolina 0 of 4; Tampa Bay 1 of 2. Goalies—Carolina, Ward 8-11-1 (27 shots-25 saves). Tampa Bay, Nabokov 3-3-1 (30-29). A—18,104 (19,204). T—2:24.