Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lightning get rare road win

By JC De La Torre


The Tampa Bay Lightning earned their second victory of the season, their first on the road, with a stirring 3-2 in Toronto over the Maple Leafs. Mike Smith made 37 saves and Vinny Lecavalier scored twice for the Lightning.

Jussi Jokinen tapped in an open net goal at the 5:08 mark of the first to stake the Bolts to an early 1-0 advantage. It would last only a couple minutes as the Leafs would tie it on a power play goal by Matt Stajan to even it at 1. At 15:37 of the 1st, Vincent Lecavalier broke loose on a breakaway and made a beautiful behind the back move to put it in the net, giving the Bolts a 2-1 headed into intermission. In the 2nd Period, Lecavalier would give the Bolts the dreaded two-goal lead with another highlight reel power play goal. Tampa Bay's #1 draft pick, Steven Stamkos earned his first NHL point on the goal. Toronto got it a little closer late in the period, when Mike Van Ryn found the back of the net on a powerplay.

From this point, Mike Smith took over the game and made 13 saves in the third period, whethering the onslaught from Leafs as they battled for the tying goal.

The victory by the Bolts pulls them out of the Southeast division cellar (at least temporarily).

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