Lightning score 8 goals on 14 shots in rout of Hurricanes

The Tampa Bay Lightning had the magic touch Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring eight goals on 14 shots in an 8-2 win.

The Bolts are the first team in NHL history to score at least eight goals on 14 or fewer shots in a contest since shots were first officially tracked in 1955-56, per Opta Stats. Tampa Bay's 57.1% shooting percentage is believed to be a single-game NHL record.

Brayden Point scored the final goal of the evening to complete the hat trick. He also collected two assists in the game.

TOSS YOUR IN THE REPLIES pic.twitter.com/h8XK5HG2Ls

- Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) November 25, 2023

Nikita Kucherov picked up an assist on the last goal to cap a six-point night, which tied the franchise's single-game record set by Doug Crossman in 1992. Kucherov leads all NHL skaters with 35 points in 20 games.

The Lightning directed just one shot on goal during the game's opening 20 minutes and found themselves down by one heading into the first intermission. Tampa Bay netted three power-play goals in the second period before completely breaking the contest open with five unanswered tallies in the final stanza.

"The power play executed well," Kucherov said after the game. "That gave us momentum, and I thought we played better as the game went on."

He added, "You just try and play the right way, follow the game plan. When you execute the plan, it sometimes pays off."

Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta was in net for all eight goals. His save percentage dropped from .885 before the contest to .854 afterward.

It was a triumphant performance in the other crease, as Andrei Vasilevskiy shined in his season debut with 22 saves on 24 shots. The former Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy winner missed the first 20 games of the campaign after having back surgery in September.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he believed Vasilevskiy's return helped fuel the Bolts' outburst.

"He's one of the best players on our team, if not the best," he told reporters postgame. "It's a momentum swing when you get to have your full arsenal. ... When you have the guys you're used to having, it definitely helps. I think the guys really dug in for him tonight."

Vasilevskiy said he felt "a little bit better than average" in his first game back before heaping the praise on his teammates.

"The guys played unbelievably in front of me," he said. "Just lots of blocked shots, obviously the goal support. It's just remarkable, couldn't be more perfect for a first game."

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