The Ottawa Senators (1-0-0) beat the Tampa Bay Lightning (0-1-0) 5-4 on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa to hand hand the Lightning the loss on opening night.
The Lightning built a 2-0 lead in the first thanks to a power play goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brayden Point. After Ottawa got one back, Nikita Kucherov hit a power play goal that made it 3-1. From there the Senators rallied with two goals in the second to make it 3-3, which would be the score as the game went late.
At the 18:13 mark in the third period Shane Pinto scored his second of the game to break the tie. Fifty-nine seconds later Claude Giroux hit an empty-netter to make it 5-3. Nikita Kucherov scored his second goal of the game with :14 to go to pull within 5-4, which would prove to be the final score.
The Lightning return to action when they host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Puck drop from Benchmark International Arena is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Saturday night in Tampa.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES