Steven Stamkos scored one of Tampa Bay’s four goals in the game’s opening 12:32 of play as the Lightning hammered the host San Jose Sharks 7-1 on Saturday night.
Stamkos, who also recorded an assist and was credited with the game-winning tally, put the club ahead 2-0 at 7:45 as it poured it on and soon chased starting goalie James Reimer in the teams’ first meeting since Feb. 1, 2020.
Alex Killorn found the net and posted a helper, giving him 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) over the past 15 games.
Ross Colton potted a pair, and Mathieu Joseph, Corey Perry and Brayden Point scored. Ryan McDonagh, Nikita Kucherov and Mikhail Sergachev dished out two assists apiece.
In his first start of 2022, Brian Elliott (4-2-2) was victorious by turning aside 27 of 28 shots for Tampa Bay, which improved to 7-3-0 in January.
In all, 14 players produced points for the Lightning, who are an NHL-best 18-3-0 against Pacific Division foes since the 2019-20 season.
Jaycob Megna netted his first goal, and Reimer (12-8-1) surrendered four markers over a span of 9:15 in the first period. He made nine saves before being replaced by Adin Hill (15 saves on 18 shots).
San Jose played without two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson (upper body), who averages 23 minutes of ice time. The club concluded its run of six games in 12 days with a 2-3-1 mark.
Shortly after the puck dropped, the Lightning showed they had put Friday’s 5-1 drubbing in Anaheim completely behind them.
Colton — who scored the only goal in the defeat in southern California — beat Reimer at 3:17 to set the tone.
Just 4:28 later, Killorn found Stamkos in the left circle — his familiar spot — and the captain whipped home his team-leading 20th goal.
Adding on, Joseph tallied for the seventh time at 11:04 on his squad’s ninth shot of the frame.
Perry and Megna traded tallies to end the period, but the visitors held a sizable 4-1 lead.
In the second, Point finished a three-on-two break by ripping his 16th goal 6:24 in for a 5-1 margin.
Killorn scored his 13th on the power play and Colton added his eighth in the final period.
–Field Level Media
