Nikita Kucherov had two goals and two assists for the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 7-4 win against the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.
Victor Hedman had four assists, Nicholas Paul and Steven Stamkos each had a goal and an assist, and Brian Elliott made 14 saves for the Lightning (46-21-8, 100 points), who rallied from a 4-2 deficit to move three points ahead of the Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist, Paul Stastny, Josh Morrissey and Blake Wheeler also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for the Jets (35-30-11, 81 points), whose playoff hopes continue to fade.
The Lightning took a 5-4 lead three minutes into the third period after forcing a turnover at the Winnipeg blue line. Ondraj Palat then fed Stamkos and he scored with a backhand.
Kucherov followed with a redirection to make it 6-4 at 6:50.
After Mikhail Sergachev made it 7-4 with 8:05 left, Hellebuyck was pulled for the second straight night.
Eric Comrie made five saves the rest of the way.
The Jets had scored the first two goals of the second period to take the two-goal lead, but the Lightning struck back with two goals to tie the score 4-4 heading into the third.
After Morrissey gave the Jets a 3-2 lead at 7:36, the Lightning challenged for offsides.
The goal stood, however, and Winnipeg went on a power play for delay of game. Wheeler scored on a redirection with the man advantage for a 4-2 lead at 9:34.
Paul scored on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle to cut the lead to 4-3 at 13:56.
Hedman found Kucherov for a one-timer to tie the score 4-4 with 1:57 left in the period.
Stastny scored on a redirection while stationed in front of the net to give the Jets a 1-0 lead 56 seconds into the game.
Alex Killorn scored a power-play goal to tie the score 1-1 at 6:05.
Connor scored on a breakaway to move Winnipeg back in front 2-1 at 13:46.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored with 1:39 left in the first period to tie the score 2-2.
–Field Level Media