Kunitz jump-starts Lightning’s comeback win vs. Capitals

The Penguins next two opponents squared off Monday night, with Tampa Bay (Thursday night foe) beating Washington (Wednesday night foe), 4-3, on Brayden Point’s power-play goal at 3:08 of overtime.

While Point secured an extra ... OK, the pun is intended ... point for Tampa Bay, a familiar name started the Lightning comeback after early 2-0 and 3-1 deficits. Guy named Chris Kunitz, to be exact.

After signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent in the offseason, the former Penguins winger notched his first goal for the Lightning at 18:09 of the second period.

Big goals are not exactly foreign to the longtime NHL winger.

After all, his second-overtime goal in Game 7 against Ottawa last spring powered the Penguins into the Stanley Cup final.

Kunitz, of course, was one of several Penguins mainstays to leave in the offseason because of the salary cap.

Panthers

Defenseman Mike Matheson signed an eightyear contract with Florida Monday. Financial terms of the contract were not released, but TSN reported it is worth $ 39 million ($4,875,000 average annual value). Matheson, 23, is in the final season of his threeyear, entry-level contract and could have become a restricted free agent July 1, 2018. Matheson is plus-2 with four shots on goal in two games this season. He had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 81 games last season. He was selected by the Panthers with the No. 23 pick of the 2012 NHL Draft.

Wild

Minnesota left winger Zach Parise returned to practice Monday after missing the first two games of the season because of an undisclosed injury. Without its star forward, the Wild lost in regulation at Detroit and in a shootout at Carolina. They don’t play again until Thursday at Chicago, with the home opener looming Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Parise is expected to return to the lineup in one of those two games but neither he nor coach Bruce Boudreau would say which one.

Rangers

New York claimed forward Adam Cracknell off waivers. from Dallas. The 32year-old Cracknell has skated in 204 NHL games with St. Louis, Columbus, Vancouver, Edmonton and Dallas, with 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points. He played in one game for Dallas this season before being placed on waivers.

Bruins

Center Patrice Bergeron missed his second game in a row as Boston lost to Colorado, 4-0, Monday. He has undisclosed injury.