2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Tampa Bay Lightning win 5-2 against the Atlanta Thrashers
The 95th game of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series was to be settled between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Atlanta Thrashers. The game took place this past Friday at the Philips Arena, home of the Atlanta Thrashers. 10,000 fans came to
support their respective teams as the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Atlanta Thrashers played the 7th game of their campaign thus far. The away team dominated the game scoring thrice in the 1st period to win 5-2 and completed a superb performance.
1st Period
The Tampa Bay Lightning started to attack from the very start of the period coming up with brilliant passing along the way. They were dominating in the back, middle and front. Thus, they dictated the proceedings displaying superior skills compared to their
opposition.
The hard work that the Tampa Bay Lightning was putting in, they were rewarded with a goal in the 4th minute during a power play. The goal was scored by Brett Clark who hit a splendid shot from 31 feet that went flying into the goal.
The home team showed some resilience but they couldn’t score any goals. The Atlanta Thrashers started to develop good plays during the middle part of the period. But the problem was the fact that they were restricted to long range shooting. Though they got
close to the goal while in possession but the defence managed to get hold of the puck and clear it.
However, the home fans were silenced by the Tampa Bay Lightning when they scored once again to take the lead catching the opposition on a counter attack. The goal was scored by the Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Vincent Lecavalier from close range. Through
the goal, the away team gained confidence and had the momentum in their favour.
The Tampa Bay Lightning capitalized and scored once again to take the score to 3-0 when Steven Stamkos scored through a powerful shot from 24 feet. The goal came at a crucial time in the 18th minute. The teams went into the break with the Tampa
Bay Lightning in the lead with 3 goals to their advantage. During the period the home team made 10 goal attempts and the Tampa Bay Lightning made 16 goal attempts.
2nd Period
The 2nd period saw the Atlanta Thrashers enter the field determined to score. They worked really hard running to and fro in order to score and prevent the opposing from scoring.
There reward for this effort was a goal in the 9th minute that was scored by Jim Slater. The goal was scored from a fabulous shot that was hit from 14 feet and the score was 1-3 at the time in favour of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After this, the home team got confidence and they had the share of the chances but they couldn’t score any further goals. However, with each passing minute the Tampa Bay Lightning gained confidence and was determined to restore their lead.
The Tampa Bay Lightning was successful in doing so when Steven Stamkos scored his 2nd goal of the night. The goal was scored in the 18 minute through an amazing 19 feet flick shot that was perfectly placed.
The period ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning leading 4-1. The period witnessed Tampa Bay Lightning and the Atlanta Thrashers each score a goal out of the 10 and 14 goal attempts they made respectively.
3rd Period
The 3rd period began on a high for the Tampa Bay Lightning as they came up with regular attacks on the opposing goal.
However it was the Atlanta Thrashers who scored in the 12th minute when they caught their opponents off guard and Dustin Byfuglien scored from a 55 feet powerful strike. The goal took the score to 4-2 and gave the home fans and team hopes of a
comeback.
But the Tampa Bay Lightning scored once again in the 18th minute to win the match 5-2 with the goal coming from Steven Stamkos who completed his hat-trick at the end of the match.
At the end of the game Tampa Bay Lightning Coach Guy Boucher said,"The one focus we had was we were going to play a five-minute game," Boucher said. "That's all. We didn't care about the rest of the game. … I think we came out strong and I think our leaders
really did everything they needed to do in the room to make sure the guys were on the same page with the energy we needed to come out strong."
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