TAMPA, FLA. – Goaltender Justin Peters made 47 saves but it wasn’t enough as the Carolina Hurricanes lost 3-2 in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Tampa Bay Times Forum on Saturday.
Peters put in a spectacular and energized effort to keep Carolina in the game as the Lightning dominated play throughout and outshot the Hurricanes 50-27, while Jiri Tlusty broke out of a seven-game scoring drought and tallied both goals in the losing effort.
Tlusty’s fifth and sixth goals of the season gave the Hurricanes the lead at two different points in the game – in the first and second periods respectively.
However, the Lightning were able to beat Peters enough to tie the game twice before heading to overtime.
Following a 4-2 loss to Washington in which they played an exceptional game but gave up three power play goals, a lapse on the penalty kill made the difference again as Tampa Bay tied the game at 7:56 in the third period.
After playing to a 2-2 tie after 60 minutes, it was Radko Gudas’ point-blank slap shot from the left faceoff dot that put the third and final puck past Peters on the night, and ended the game at 2:16 into overtime.
“It’s the way it works,” Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said.
“We deserved better last night and we walk away with nothing. Our goalie stole a point for us tonight. We were a much better team last night, yet here we are stealing a point tonight. Petey played great. Obviously he was the difference for us tonight.”