Johnson's first 3 strikes lifts Lightning past Hurricanes

Tyler Johnson scored his first three goals of the season as the host Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Tyler Johnson scored his first three goals of the season as the host Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Yanni Gourde produced Tampa Bay's go-ahead goal in the third period. Johnson had a goal in each period, including an empty-netter to cap the scoring.

Micheal Ferland and Martin Necas scored for the Hurricanes, who wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 1-2-0 mark.

Tampa Bay goalie Louis Domingue, who was making his season debut, stopped 38 shots.

He faced only seven shots in the third period until the Hurricanes went with an extra attacker with about 2 1/2 minutes to play. That led to Johnson's empty-net goal with 1:56 to play.

Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek stopped 23 shots.

The Lightning went more than six minutes to open the third period without a shot before Gourde's second goal of the season pushed the Lightning into a 3-2 lead. It came 7:02 into the period after the Hurricanes failed to clear the puck and Gourde collected it low in the slot.

Carolina ended up with 14 shots in the third period.

Ferland opened the game's scoring just past the midway mark of the opening period, skating in unchecked to tap in the puck around Domingue.

Sebastian Aho picked up an assist on the play, giving him at least one point in all seven games this season.

The Lightning pulled even at 12:42 of the first period when Johnson converted off a pass from rookie Mathieu Joseph, who began the rush with a quick move down the ice. while Joseph recorded his first career point.

Johnson's second goal gave the Lightning a second-period lead. He broke through two Carolina players to launch the shot. His 112th all-time goal with Tampa Bay moved him alone into eighth place on the franchise list.

The Hurricanes responded on Necas' first career goal with 7:12 left in the second period. Necas, a rookie, converted as he fell to the ice while taking a pass from Warren Foegele.

The Lightning improved to 3-1-0 on a season-opening, five-game homestand.

(With inputs from agencies.)