Benjamin Pierce

Beat Writer, Manager of Media Relations for the @TBLightning |

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

The word “great” was used repeatedly to describe Sam O’Reilly’s NHL debut for the @TBLightning.

The 20-year-old saw time in key spots for the #GoBolts , and he delivered. As far as first impressions go, he passed the test.

📝: https://t.co/qXS2VBHx8H

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

#GoBolts D'Astous: “Everyone contributed. I think Dennis made huge saves, our first line was just being our first line. Jeff and Sabs, what they did, once again they brought a lot of energy to us. I think it was a full team effort.”

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Hagel on Sabourin's fight tonight vs. Olivier: “It’s unreal. That’s a tough guy over there. I think everyone knows that in the league, everywhere. For a guy to step on the ice and be able to do that, probably a little tired, not much sleep, played a game the night before. If he can do that, then I think all the other guys can just give us a little bit more effort and I think that wakes you up a little bit that that’s the type of characters we have in this dressing room.”

#GoBolts

[Tampa Bay Lightning @TBLightning]

BACK-TO-BACK BOLTS WINS ⚡️

#GoBolts | @PNCBank

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

#GoBolts Hagel: “Back to backs are never going to be perfect. Sometimes you’re going to need your goalie, and he stood tall for us early in the first period and then we were able to find one obviously. I thought he was great, and then you have guys in the room that are willing to do that (fight) to kind of wake up the bench. All around I just think it was a character win. I think everyone contributed. It’s a back to back, you’ve got 11 forwards, banged up and everyone came out to play tonight, so there’s not much more you can ask for.”

[Tampa Bay Lightning @TBLightning]

BACK-TO-BACK BOLTS WINS ⚡️

#GoBolts | @PNCBank

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

HOT START, HILDY: With his 28-save win tonight, Dennis Hildeby is 4-0-1 to begin his @TBLightning career.

He's just the second goalie in #GoBolts history (Sean Burke, 3-0-2 in 2005-06) to earn at least a point in each of his first five starts with the team.

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

FINAL: #GoBolts 3, Columbus 1

Hagel 2G, A
Guentzel GWG, A in NHL game 700
Kucherov 2A
Hildeby 28 SVs

The Lightning are 13-4-2

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Hagel called for hooking, the #GoBolts head to the PK just past the midway point of the third period

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

GOAL: Hagel makes it 3-1 #GoBolts with a sharp angle shot

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

GOAL: Guentzel finds open space in the left circle and fires one home, it's 2-1 #GoBolts

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Period three is a go

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

End of a scoreless second period and this game remains knotted 1-1

#GoBolts

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

That goal does come off the board for a high stick, so this game remains tied 1-1

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

GOAL: Hagel's second of the night, Kucherov's second helper. Hagel gets a stick on a high shot by Kucherov

It's 2-1 #GoBolts with 4:42 left in the second period

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Review underway for a high stick

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

GOAL: Hagel's second of the night, Kucherov's second helper. Hagel gets a stick on a high shot by Kucherov

It's 2-1 #GoBolts with 4:42 left in the second period

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

GOAL: Hagel's second of the night, Kucherov's second helper. Hagel gets a stick on a high shot by Kucherov

It's 2-1 #GoBolts with 4:42 left in the second period

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Crozier appears to be in some pain on the bench after another key block for the Lightning, that one against Lomberg during an odd-man look

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

That was Tampa Bay's best 5-on-5 shift of the game so far, multiple rebound chances for Hagel, another for Guentzel and some point shots as well

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Second period starts now

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

End of the first period, all square at 1-1. Shots on goal favor the Blue Jackets 12-11

#GoBolts

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Complete chaos in the defensive zone for a moment there, Hildeby was flying around and D'Astous a big, big shot block to keep this game even

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

The bench's reaction to this fight was pretty intense, he got quite the applause on his way to the room for some repairs

[Benjamin Pierce @BenjaminJReport]

Sabourin and Olivier drop the gloves, that is quite a matchup there

#GoBolts