Bolts Win For Third Time on Road Trip

By JC De La Torre

The Tampa Bay Lightning won for the third time in four tries, clinching a winning record for the current five game road trip, by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1. Tampa Bay took control of the game late in the first period, getting goals within forty-one seconds of each other by Evgeny Artyukhin at 18:16 and Mark Recchi at 18:57 to give them a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.

Vincent Lecavalier added a goal 5:48 into the second to give the Lightning a 3-0 cushion. Late in the second period, Peter Harrold got the Kings on the board. They would get no closer, as goalie Mike Smith made 29 saves to shut down the Kings attack.

Tampa Bay is now 3-1 on their road trip and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. The Lightning should get a great measuring stick tonight as they face one of the league's best, the San Jose Sharks.