BY CHIP ALEXANDER
\nNews & Observer<\/p>\n
The \u201cBig Cat\u201d was back Friday for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy played his first game since April as the Russian finally returned to the Lightning lineup following back surgery. If it was big news in the NHL, \u2014 and it was \u2014 one had to wonder if it would be bad news for the Carolina Hurricanes. It was. <\/p>\n
Tampa Bay took an 8-2 victory at PNC Arena, scoring three times on the power play in the second period and keeping the lead as Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of 24 shots and was solid enough. Canes goalie Antti Raanta had won a franchise-record 14 consecutive home games, but that streak came to an end in the third and last game of the season series \u2014 Tampa Bay (10-6-5) winning two of three. <\/p>\n
Tampa Bay had just 14 shots Friday — one in the first period — but made the 14 count. Brayden Point had a hat trick and two assists and Nikita Kucherov, playing as well as anyone in the league, finished with two goals and four assists. Kucherov did not play in the Canes\u2019 win Nov. 11 in Tampa, but was at his deadly best Friday. <\/p>\n
The Canes (11-8-0) also have dealt with some goaltending drama. Frederik Andersen is sidelined indefinitely with a blood-clotting issue and Raanta left Wednesday\u2019s game against Edmonton after the first period with what was deemed a lower-body issue. Canes coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour said after the 6-3 win over the Oilers that Raanta\u2019s removal was a precautionary move. Come Friday, Raanta was in the starter\u2019s crease at the morning skate at PNC Arena, good to go. <\/p>\n
Vasilevskiy, activated off injured reserve, drew a lot of eyes when he took the net for the Lightning\u2019s morning skate. <\/p>\n
As Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said, Vasilesvkiy has taken the Lightning to \u201cthe peak of the mountain\u201d \u2014 Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 \u2014 and the former Vezina Trophy winner is one of the \u201ccornerstones\u201d of the organization. \u201cI know he\u2019s eager. There\u2019s a ton of work that\u2019s gone into this,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cIn total Vasilevskiy style he\u2019s worked his tail off. He\u2019s ready.\u201d <\/p>\n