Point gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead at 3:58 of the first period by scoring with a backhand from the bottom slot and ending the game in the top floor.

Point made it 2-0 with a power play goal at 12:27, a wrist shot from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Nikita Kucherov.

Andrew Mangiapane made it 2-1 at 10:31 of the second period when he blocked a one-timer from Lars Eller at the top.

Protas made it 2-2 at 12:29 with a short-handed goal, receiving a pass from Wilson and beating Vasilevskiy’s short team.

“I thought both teams probably deserved points tonight,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “The scoring chances were even, the Class A chances were even…everything was pretty even. Unfortunately we conceded a goal when we were outnumbered, and maybe that’s the difference in the game. I thought there were two pretty good teams that did it and unfortunately one didn’t get any points and that was us.”

Eyssimont gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead again at 19:16 after winning a puck battle behind the net and scoring with a backhand.

Strome tied the score at 3-3 at 1:37 of the third period, finishing the game on an odd rush with a shot from the left circle.

“Hockey is not an easy game sometimes,” Lightning captain Victor Hedman said. “During the games there are different ups and downs and it’s all about how you get through them. I think we’ve done a good job most of the season, but tonight they pushed back.”

NOTES: Cooper coached in his 900th NHL game, all for the Lightning. He has a record of 536-287-77. … Strome has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in the last nine games. … Cirelli’s goal streak ended after six games (seven goals).