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Lightning's Andrej Sustr scores first goal in year

 
Andrej Sustr, back middle, is the center of attention after scoring his first goal in a year.
Andrej Sustr, back middle, is the center of attention after scoring his first goal in a year.
Published April 19, 2015

TAMPA — D Andrej Sustr is a very popular player in the Lightning locker room.

But teammates have made it a running joke in reminding the 6-foot-7 Czech of his goal drought, with zero goals in this regular season and just one in 117 career games. Needless to say, when Sustr scored with five minutes left in the second period of Saturday's 5-1 win over the Red Wings in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, the bench erupted.

"That was one of those moments you wish you could freeze in time," coach Jon Cooper said. "When he scored, you would have thought we scored a triple-overtime game-winner. That was the feeling on the bench."

It was a big goal, too, giving the Lightning a 3-0 lead. Sustr jumped into the play, streaking into the high slot in the Red Wings' zone. He credited C Valtteri Filppula for making a spectacular play to flip him a cross-crease pass for the backdoor score.

It was Sustr's first goal since April 5, 2014, against Dallas.

"It was obviously exciting for everyone, especially for a guy like me who doesn't score that many goals in the regular season," said Sustr, who was plus-3 in the game. "I'm really happy I could chip in."

TOUGH Day: Red Wings rookie G Petr Mrazek was the darling after his 44-save performance in Thursday's 3-2 win in Game 1, his playoff debut. But Mrazek was pulled after two periods Saturday after allowing four goals on 18 shots. But coach Mike Babcock said Mrazek will start Game 3 in Detroit. "We gave up some slam dunks to him," Babcock said. "You've got to give your goalie a chance."

LINING UP: The Lightning went with the same lineup, with rookie LW Jonathan Drouin and D Mark Barberio healthy scratches for the second straight game. D Jason Garrison (upper body) was also out; he hopes to return this week. Babcock said forward Justin Abdelkader (hand) should be ready to play by Tuesday's Game 3 with the series tied at one game each.

POWER SURGE: After going 0-for-7 on the power play Thursday, the Lightning responded better. It scored on two of its four opportunities. C Tyler Johnson scored in the first, putting back Nikita Nesterov's shot three minutes into the game, and Filppula added a power-play goal in the third.

"We switched things up a little bit, threw some different looks," said C Steven Stamkos, who had one of his two assists on the power play. "That's what the playoffs are about. It's about adapting. We made the changes. It worked out."

ICE CHIPS: Nesterov picked up a pair of power-play assists and has a five-game points streak dating to the regular season. … C Vladislav Namestnikov played a team-low 8:24. … The Lightning blocked 21 shots, four by D Victor Hedman. It had only eight blocks Thursday.

Times staff writer Matt Baker contributed to this report. Contact Joe Smith at joesmith@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_JSmith.