Lightning's Alex Killorn crushes two Hurricanes in frantic sequence
It's unlikely we'll see a more frantic sequence than the 25 seconds of madness in Monday's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
With the game tied at 2-2 in the third period, Lightning forward Alex Killorn levelled Hurricanes forward Martin Necas with a crushing open-ice hit, and all hell broke loose. Necas was slow to get up, left the ice with the assistance of trainers, but returned to the game shortly thereafter without further incident.
Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner – who floated a pass to Necas through the middle before he got crushed – rushed in to defend his teammate, and it didn't go as planned.
Although Gardiner submitted a decent effort, Killorn beat him with relative ease, landing a few shots before mercifully wrestling him to the ground.
This sequence from Alex Killorn...huge hit on Martin Necas, fights Jake Gardiner and then fires up the crowd pic.twitter.com/UZDwvCgelK
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 20, 2021
Killorn wasn't exactly done there, imploring the crowd to roar for him as he left the ice with a throwback "raise the roof" motion.
Johnny ➡️ Killer for this beauty on a breakaway! pic.twitter.com/scAyMTBWZo
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 19, 2021
It wasn't all brute and no finesse for Killorn on Monday, who notched a beautiful goal in the first period to open the scoring.
Yanni putting in WORK to end it 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CW65U3rms0
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 20, 2021
Killorn then completed the Gordie Howe hat-trick – on a night where Howe was passed by Patrick Marleau for first on the all-time games played list, no less – by assisting on Yanni Gourde's overtime winner.
We simply can't wait for what feels like an inevitable meeting in the playoffs this summer.
More coverage from Yahoo Sports