The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning met for Game 3 at Nationwide Arena, both teams in perhaps different scenarios than most expected. While the Lightning needed a win to get back into the best-of-seven series, the Blue Jackets had the opportunity to grab their first 3-0 lead in franchise history.
First Period
No scoring. Columbus, who entered Game 3 3-for-6 on the power play, was unable to convert on the lone opportunity between the teams. After nearly every whistle, there was a scrum as things continued to escalate and tempers flare. Columbus outshot the Lightning 12-3 and each team had 16 hits.
0-0 after one. #CBJ controlling play early both in volume and quality.
Jackets at 5v5 with:
70% of shot attempts
75% of scoring chances
100% (3) of high-danger attempts
81.61% of expected goals (shot quality)Shot / heat maps: pic.twitter.com/138ZL3oqVw
— Alison (@AlisonL) April 14, 2019
Second Period
Matt Duchene scored his second career playoff goal in the second period off the rebound chance, giving the Blue Jackets the 1-0 lead.
If one is good, two is great. Oliver Bjorkstrand extended the lead, scoring the Jackets’ fourth power play goal of the series, uncorking one right past Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Tampa Bay tried sneaking one past Sergei Bobrovsky and had chances towards the end of the period but the scored remained 2-0 after two.
#CBJ up 2-0 after two.
Jackets at 5v5 with:
43.09% of shot attempts
36.73% of scoring chances
100% of high-danger attemptsJackets gave a little to Tampa Bay but defensively they have completely eliminated the perimeter of Bobrovsky’s net as an option. Look at those maps… pic.twitter.com/iXPwiLWs1j
— Alison (@AlisonL) April 15, 2019
Third Period
A desperate Lightning team started the third with the energy you expect from a team staring at an 0-3 hole, and Ondrej Palat broke the scoring drought for the Bolts.
Cam Atkinson sealed the game with 59.9 left on the empty net goal to give the Jackets the 3-1 lead and 3-0 series lead.
Game 4 Tuesday night from Columbus!