Tampa Bay Lightning star Brian Boyle was hero and villain on Tuesday after helping his team snatch a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory over the New York Islanders in a stormy playoff.
Boyle scored the game-winning goal as Tampa Bay grabbed a crucial win on the road to take a 2-1 series lead.
But the towering Lightning center incurred the wrath of Islanders coach Jack Capuano after flattening defenseman Thomas Hickey in the build-up to his winning goal.
Capuano said afterwards Boyle should face sanctions for the hit on Hickey.
Replays appeared to show 6ft 7in (2.0m) Boyle poleaxing Hickey with an elbow.
“It’s a direct shot to the head,” Capuano said. “He’s probably going to get suspended for a game. The whole game, it shouldn’t come down to that,” he added.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper meanwhile expressed delight after seeing his team clinch an action-packed victory heading into game four on Friday in Brooklyn.
“I think if you watched tonight, (you’d) be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining hockey game,” Cooper said. “It had everything. It had goals. It had saves. It had hits. It had overtime. It had all the drama.”
Boyle’s late flashpoint was the culmination of a spiky encounter which simmered throughout.
Boyle triggered an exchange of shoves with Islanders defenseman Travis Harmonic during the warmups after casually skating over the New York logo at center ice.
Early in the second period, Hickey clattered into Lightning left winger Jonathan Drouin with a high hit. Seconds later players from both sides skirmished.
“Everybody got their money’s worth tonight,” Capuano said. “It’s just too bad it had to end the way it did.”
Elsewhere Tuesday, the Nashville Predators swept back into contention in their Western Conference series against the San Jose Sharks with a 4-1 win.
San Jose lead the series 2-1 heading into Thursday’s Game 4.
Nashville’s victory owed much to goaltender Pekka Rinne, who made 26 saves.
Patrick Marleau scored San Jose’s lone effort, while Nashville’s goals came from Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Shea Weber and Colin Wilson.
In the night’s other game, the St. Louis Blues trounced the Dallas Stars 6-1 to take a 2-1 lead in their best of seven series.
Alexander Steen and David Backes scored two goals apiece while Vladimir Tarasenko scored one and assisted on two more for the Blues.
Dallas had taken the lead in the first period through Colton Sceviour.
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