By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Tampa Bay Lightning had the best record in the NHL. However, they did not make it out of the first-round of the 2019 NHL playoffs.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Lightning 7-3 at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night. The Blue Jackets swept the series with the win.
This is the first-time that Columbus has won a playoff series. Before this series, the Lightning had a 6-0 record over the past two seasons against the Blue Jackets.
In addition, this is the first-time that the Presidents’ Trophy winner was swept in the first-round. It is just the third-time that the Presidents’ Trophy winner has been swept in a series ever.
The Detroit Red Wings were swept in the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals. Plus, the Calgary Flames were swept in the 1988 Smythe Division Final.
The third period belonged to the Blue Jackets. Matt Duchene — who was acquired by the Blue Jackets in a blockbuster deal with the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline — scored to make it 7-3.
Alexandre Texier scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-3. In addition, Artemi Panarin also scored an unassisted goal to make it 5-3.
Oliver Bjorkstrand gave Columbus a 4-3 lead late in the second period.
Brayden Point died the game at 3-3 with a power play goal. Cédric Paquette cut the Blue Jackets lead to 3-2 with his first goal of the series.
Seth Jones gave Columbus a 3-1 lead to begin the second period scoring.
The Lightning got on the board when Steven Stamkos scored. His goal cut the lead to 2-1.
Texier and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the first two goals of the game for the Blue Jackets.
Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was the winning net minder. He made 30 saves and had a 90.9% save percentage.
He allowed three goals in 59 minutes and 30 seconds.
Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy received the loss. He made 18 saves and an 81.8% save percentage. He allowed all four goals in 58 minutes and 26 seconds.