Three Things: Not Their Night, Chinakhov Returns, Werenski Matches Career High

By Will Chase on March 5, 2025 at 8:15 am
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) celebrates with center Brayden Point (21) and left wing Brandon Hagel (38) after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period at Amalie Arena.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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Not an easy one.

Jake Guentzel and Victor Hedman each scored twice and had an assist, and Jonas Johansson made 30 of 32 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 on Tuesday at Amalie Arena. The loss snaps Columbus' four-game winning streak.

Not Their Night

The Lighting's eight-game winning streak ended in a 2-1 loss at the Florida Panthers on Monday. If you thought they might be tired, think again.

Two goals on two shots by Mitchell Chaffee (12, 0:30) and Kucherov (28, 1:37) inside the first 1:37 set the tone early. It’s the fastest two goals by a team all season.

Emil Lilleberg (14) and Darren Raddysh (22) assisted on Chaffee's goal. Guentzel (31) assisted on Kucherov's goal as part of a three-point night.

Guentzel (28) scored 1:27 into the second period to regain the Tampa two-goal lead. He’s scored in 15 consecutive games against Columbus. Victor Hedman (39) and Brayden Point (31) picked up the assists. Point is on a three-game point streak (one goal, three assists).

Hedman (10) added another goal at 6:36. Kucherov (61) and Raddysh (23) added on with the assists.

Chinakhov Returns

Yegor Chinakhov returned to the lineup on Tuesday, having last played on Nov. 27 against the Montreal Canadiens and missing 39 games. In a corresponding move, Cole Sillinger was placed on IR retroactively to Feb. 27 and is expected to miss a few weeks.

Chinakhov played 13:25 and had two shots and three hits.

Former Blue Jacket Cam Atkinson was placed on waivers by the Lightning on Tuesday but did play against his old club.

Werenski Matches Career High

Zach Werenski's home point streak came to an end one week ago against the Dallas Stars. Following a two-game stretch with no points, he's now gone two straight games with a point, scoring his 19th goal (unassisted) at 17:20 to cut the deficit to one goal.

Werenski matched his career high with his second goal of the game, a short-handed second-period tally, his 20th of the season to make it 4-2 at 10:49. Adam Fantilli (20) and Kent Johnson (23) assisted on the goal. Johnson is on a six-game point streak (four goals, four assists) and has points in 14 of his last 15 games. Fantilli is also on a six-game point streak (three goals, four assists).

Matching his career high, Werenski last scored 20 goals in 2019-20. The goal came just after a Lightning goal was nullified due to a successful offside challenge by Columbus.

Sunrise Part Two

The Blue Jackets continue their four-game road trip with a date against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, Mar. 6 at 7 p.m. ET.

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