Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli gets first hat trick, Alex Killorn reaches 20 goals in win over Winnipeg Jets

WINNIPEG — Anthony Cirelli wiped shaving cream out of his hair, and his ear, courtesy of a first-hat-trick facial.

Steven Stamkos whooped in the background about Alex Killorn hitting 20 goals for the first time.

When a team scores seven goals in a game, it’s bound to see a couple of milestones. That was the case in the Lightning’s 7-1 win against the Jets on Friday at Bell MTS Place.

Cirelli’s third goal, near the midway point of the third period, had more than a little puck luck. Cirelli looked to be passing to Tyler Johnson at the post, and the puck deflected off defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s stick and into the net.

“I’ll take it,” said Cirelli, in his second full Lightning season. “(Hat tricks) don’t come around very often.”

Cirelli’s first two goals, both scored in the first period, were all him.

On the first, Ondrej Palat made his way down the slot battling two Jets, then passed back to Cirelli, who was trailing behind him. Cirelli flung the puck past Connor Hellebuyck for the first goal for the Lightning (29-15-4) midway through the period.

The second goal came in the final minute. Mikhail Sergachev started the play in the defensive end with a hit on Mark Scheifele to separate him from the puck. Cirelli picked up the puck and passed to Palat, who sent it back to Cirelli.

Three minutes after Cirelli finished off the hat trick, Killorn notched his 20th goal. Mitchell Stephens took the original shot, and Laurent Brossoit, who replaced Hellebuyck midway through the second period, made the save. Killorn jumped on the rebound and put a quick shot into the net.

“Guys have been joking around. It seems like I’ve been hovering around (20 goals) my entire career,” Killorn said. “It’s nice to get it, and so early in the season.”

Killorn has hovered just under 20 goals for most of his career. His previous high was 19 in 2017. There are 34 games left in the regular season.

Lightning 3-2-2—7

Jets 0-1-0—1

First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 10 (Palat, Johnson), 9:27. 2, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 21 (Stamkos, Point), 12:21. 3, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 11 (Palat), 19:07. Penalties—None.

Second Period—4, Tampa Bay, Kucherov 22 (Point, Stamkos), 7:21. 5, Tampa Bay, Verhaeghe 6 (McDonagh), 11:10. 6, Winnipeg, Roslovic 9 (Perreault), 11:44. Penalties—Rutta, TB (Holding), 0:51; Stamkos, TB (Cross Checking), 19:49.

Third Period—7, Tampa Bay, Cirelli 12 (Palat), 7:48. 8, Tampa Bay, Killorn 20 (Sergachev, Stephens), 10:45. Penalties—Kulikov, Win (Delay of Game), 2:47.

Shots on Goal—Tampa Bay 7-9-10_26. Winnipeg 5-18-8_31. Power-play opportunities—Tampa Bay 0 of 1; Winnipeg 0 of 2. Goalies—Tampa Bay, Vasilevskiy 24-9-2 (31 shots-30 saves). Winnipeg, Hellebuyck 21-14-4 (12-7), Winnipeg, Brossoit 4-5-0 (14-12). A—15,325 (15,321). T—2:22. Referees—Steve Kozari, Brad Meier. Linesmen—Ryan Daisy, Greg Devorski.