By Bud L. Ellis
After three losses in a row, the Tampa Bay Lightning are ready for a break.
The Lightning closed out the pre-Olympic section of their schedule with a great first period Sunday in New York. But after jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Tampa Bay fell apart and the Rangers ripped through for four second-period goals, downing the Lightning 5-2.
With the recent downturn, the Lightning reach the Olympic break outside of the playoff picture. Tampa Bay and the Rangers are tied for ninth with 63 points, one point behind eighth-place Montreal and one point in front of 11th-place Atlanta.
Steven Stamkos opened the scoring at 15:33 of the first period, netting his 35th of the season (and his league-leading 15th power-play tally). Steve Downie scored just 90 seconds later, and the Lightning were looking great with a 2-0 lead.
Then things fell apart, starting with Sean Avery’s penalty shot goal for the Rangers, who scored four times in a 12:38 span of the second period.
Tampa Bay begins play again March 2 at home against Philadelphia.
—30—
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 4:39 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Steven Stamkos. Steve Downie, Tampa Bay Lightning
By Bud L. Ellis
The longer things went on Tuesday night, the worse things got for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Down 2-1 late in the first period after Vincent Lecavalier’s goal, the Lightning watched as the New York Rangers pounded in goal after goal. By the time the destruction was over, Tampa Bay was saddled with an ugly 8-2 defeat.
And the loss hurt more than pride. Tampa slipped to 13th in the crowded Eastern Conference standings, four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Coming off a victory at Carolina, the Lightning were no match for a Rangers team that scored three times in the first and third periods, and lit the lamp twice in the second.
Goaltender Antero Niittymaki was yanked after the fifth goal. Alex Tanguay scored Tampa’s other goal, a power-play tally in the second period. Tampa looks to rebound at home Thursday against Toronto.
—30—
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 5:45 am by bud
Tags: Alex Tanguay, Antero Niittymaki, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vincent LeCavalier
By Bud L. Ellis
For the first time since November 2007, the Tampa Bay Lightning left the RBC Center smiling.
Steve Downie’s goal midway through the third period pushed the Lightning to a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping an eight-game losing streak by the Lightning at Carolina that dated back more than two years.
Twice, the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game. Each time, the Lightning answered, moving to within four points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
After a pair of losses to Florida, the Lightning started quickly with a goal from Ryan Malone midway through the first period. Tied at 1-1 late in the second period, Tampa took advantage of a power play, Vincent LeCavalier scoring with just 1:05 left to make it 2-1.
Tied again in the third, Downie pushed home the game-winner with 10:49 left. That was enough for Antero Niittymaki, who made 20 saves against the team with the NHL’s worst record.
The Lightning travel to New York to face the Rangers on Tuesday.
—30—
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:24 am by bud
Tags: Antero Niittymaki, Carolina Hurricanes, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Ryan Malone, Steve Downie, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vincent LeCavalier
