The inter-conference match-up between two hot teams got off to a slow start. The Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t record their first shot of the game, a long-range drive from the point by defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, until 6 minutes and 40 seconds into the first period. Their opponent, the Pacific Division-leading Arizona Coyotes didn’t fare much better, with only one shot of their own in the same time frame.
The game remained slow paced until a misstep by Jan Rutta at 8:40 in the first period sent newly acquire Coyotes forward, Taylor Hall barrelling towards Andrei Vasilevskiy on a breakaway.