Dalpe scores rare goal, Blue Jackets defeat Lightning

COLUMBUS --
Zac Dalpe
scored his first goal in 1,629 days for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

"I still want to prove to people and myself that I can play at this level," said Dalpe, who hadn't scored in the NHL since Oct. 20, 2016, for the Minnesota Wild. "So I guess getting the goals is the cherry on top. Now it's just waking up and trying to be that consistent player I've been searching to be my whole career."
Max Domi and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and an assist, and Joonas Korpisalo made 36 saves for the Blue Jackets (15-18-8), who won for the second time in nine games. Columbus is 3-1-1 against Tampa Bay this season.
Ross Colton and Luke Schenn scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 26 saves for the Lightning (26-11-2), who have lost five of their past seven games and have scored two or fewer goals in four of their past five.
"We're where we are in the standings (third in the Discover Central Division) because we've played very well most of the year," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "When the scoring dries up a little bit, you're looking for answers. The big thing is when that happens you can't change your game.
"That's a hard part for any athlete. Their heart is in the right place and they want to do the right thing, and then you start pressing it and maybe it takes you out of your structure a little bit."
Dalpe, who was playing his fourth game this season, made it 1-0 at 14:57 of the first period when he redirected a centering pass from Domi in the slot. It was the first goal the Blue Jackets scored in the first period since March 18 (10 games).
"[Dalpe] is an easy guy to pull for," Columbus coach John Tortorella said. "Taxi squad, not on the taxi squad, all that (stuff). It's been a long year for him."

Roslovic made it 2-0 at 2:03 of the second period after Vasilevskiy and Ben Thomas couldn't connect on a pass behind the Lightning net.
Domi extended the lead to 3-0 at 6:08 of third period with a power-play goal, and Nick Foligno made it 4-0 with an empty-net goal at 13:30.
"We get hungry playing against good hockey teams for sure, and that's one of the best," Domi said. "Huge win tonight."
Colton cut it to 4-1 at 14:37 before Schenn scored with 19 seconds remaining for the 4-2 final.
"The chances were there tonight, so this is where the guys grip their sticks a little tight or a little bit of frustration sets in, but their goaltender played extremely well," Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos said. "In the course of the season, things are going to go well and things aren't going to go well, it's the teams that can figure it out and stick together and stay positive.
"This group certainly has that makeup. So yeah, it's frustrating for sure when you're not getting the results that you want, but tonight I thought it wasn't for lack of chances, it wasn't for a lack of effort."

NOTES:The teams complete the two-game set here Thursday. … Stamkos has gone seven games without a goal. … Columbus forward Boone Jenner left at 12:32 of the third period after being hit in the hand by a shot from teammate Patrik Laine. "Not so sure we're going to get good news there," Tortorella said. … Laine has two assists in his past 13 games.