Lightning win 4th straight, continue Blackhawks' misery

[January 04, 2023] Brandon Hagel had a goal and assist while Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon and Nicholas Paul also scored to boost the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-1 win against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Starting for the first time since Dec. 21, Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott stopped 25 shots to earn his eighth win in 10 decisions this season. The Lightning extended their winning streak to four games while sending the Blackhawks to their fifth straight defeat and 13th loss in their past 14 games.

Killorn scored the game-winner at 7:11 of the third period, netting his fourth goal in the past five games while falling backward into the crease. Hagel, who assisted on the play, scored on a man advantage 3:03 later. Paul's short-handed empty-netter with 1:06 to go provided the final margin.

Chicago beat Elliott on its fourth shot of the night, as Seth Jones scored on the power play at 4:50 of the first period to become the first Blackhawks defenseman to get a goal on the man advantage in 124 games.

Taylor Raddysh and Max Domi assisted on the goal.

Tampa Bay tied the game 6 1/2 minutes later, when Maroon snuck behind the Chicago defense and tipped a Victor Hedman point shot past Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock. Hedman has eight assists over his past six games after he later assisted on the empty-netter.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Taylor Raddysh (11) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Brian Elliott (1) defends his goal during the first period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

The game remained tied at 1 through the second period, although the Lightning had their chances to take the lead, hitting the post or crossbar three times.

Chicago has scored two goals or fewer in five successive games, the club's first such streak since March 2019. Stalock stopped 25 of 28 shots.

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was held off the score sheet, snapping a string of seven straight home games against Tampa Bay in which he had registered at least one point. Kane played just shy of 13 minutes over the first two periods before the team announced he was out for the third period for an undisclosed reason.

--Field Level Media

[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.] This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.