RALEIGH — The Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t what they once were, but they can still score on the power play.
The Hurricanes learned that the hard way in Saturday’s season opener at Lenovo Center.
Carolina gave Tampa Bay six power plays, the last of which led to Nikita Kucherov’s go-ahead one-timer in the third period to put the Lightning ahead. Kucherov added two empty-net goals for a natural hat trick to lead the visiting Lightning to a 4-1 win.
It wasn’t just the penalty kill that sputtered.
“You could look at special teams, but even our 5-on-5 play was pretty gross, really,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said.
Tampa Bay’s last power play came after Anthony Cirelli was hooked from behind by Hurricanes defenseman Dmitry Orlov on a breakaway — the last of several chances the Lightning created due to breakdowns in Carolina’s play. Much like it took Brayden Point just 12 seconds to score on a second period power play to tie the game, Kucherov’s first goal was quick — a one-timer 6 seconds into the man advantage that put the visitors ahead for the first time — and for good.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, had few moments where they stormed the Lightning with their usual ferocious forecheck, and most of the times they did, it was from Staal’s line with Jordan Martinook and newcomer William Carrier.
That included on Carolina’s lone goal.
The Hurricanes were being outshot 7-1 two-thirds of the way through the opening period, but the Staal line got on the forecheck and swung the momentum.
Jordan Martinook pressured Tampa Bay winger Brandan Hegel to force a turnover in the Lightning zone. Carrier got to the loose puck, circled the net and centered to Staal, who tapped the puck in for a one-goal lead at 14:32 of the first.
“Let’s be clear, his line was good,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Staal’s line. “You can read into the rest then.”
Carolina’s power play was also no help — it had an 0-for-4 night and managed just one shot on goal in 5:39 of power play time.
“That was no good either,” Brind’Amour said.
Overall, the Hurricanes mustered just 21 shots on Andrei Vasilevskiy. Frederik Andersen, who earned the opening night start for the Hurricanes, also faced 21 shots, but he couldn’t get over on Kucherov’s one-timer from the top of the right circle and, despite his best efforts, couldn’t stop all of the Lightning’s chances in front.
After Jake Guentzel — Public Enemy No. 1 in Raleigh after spurning the Hurricanes’ contract offer to sign with the Lightning this summer — drew a high-sticking penalty on defenseman Sean Walker with Carolina up 1-0 in the second period, Point scored in tight at 2:53 to tie the game.
Carolina, meanwhile, saw Andrei Svechnikov get plenty of chances but not get on the scoreboard.
“He had a couple of nice rushes, that was for sure,” Brind’Amour said, “and that’s what he can do. But we need more than flash, right? It’s gotta be more consistent play out of all those guys.”
Svechnikov finished with a game-high five shots on goal and seven more shot attempts.
“We had a few chances, for sure,” Svechnikov said. “And definitely myself as well, I had a good couple of chances. I just didn’t score. It happens sometimes, but we’re gonna bounce back.”
Carolina will have to wait until Tuesday, when the Devils come to Raleigh, to play their second game after Saturday’s scheduled rematch in Tampa was postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
“We’re probably lucky that we’re not playing them right now because we’d probably get the same thing, to be honest with you,” Brind’Amour said. “So we maybe need a couple more days.”
Notes: Jackson Blake, in his second NHL game after playing in Game 82 last season, finished with one shot on goal in 10:57 of ice time and drew second period tripping penalty. … Carrier’s assist on Staal’s was his first point with the Hurricanes. … Kucherov had four points, factoring in on all of Tampa Bay’s goals, while captain Victor Hedman had three assists. … Guentzel had two assists in his Lightning debut.
