(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning try to string back-to-back wins
together on Tuesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first of a
short two-game homestand at St. Pete Times Forum.
Tampa Bay put the brakes on a six-game losing streak (0-5-1) on Saturday, as
Benoit Pouliot's goal at 1:19 of overtime -- his second of the contest --
capped a rally and sent the Lightning past the Florida Panthers, 6-5.
Pouliot was left alone atop the Florida crease to one-time a puck which had
bounced off the end boards and past Panthers defenseman Tyson Strachan into a
half-open net.
"We were lucky to get the win, but it was just a matter of being in the right
spot at the right time," Purcell said.
Steven Stamkos added two goals and one assist for the Lightning, who had won
five in a row before the long slide.
Alex Killorn picked up his initial NHL tally and Teddy Purcell also scored to
back 25 saves by Anders Lindback.
"We never quit. That's never a question and never will be a question and we
showed it again tonight," said Stamkos. "We finally got a bounce our way on
the overtime goal. Hopefully, this sparks some momentum and will help us
moving forward."
Toronto, meanwhile, enters Tuesday's matchup on a winning note after Nazem
Kadri and Clarke MacArthur each tallied one goal and one assist to lead the
Maple Leafs to a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers.
Phil Kessel also lit the lamp, while James van Riemsdyk, Dion Phaneuf and Cody
Franson each added assists for the Maple Leafs, winners in six of their last
seven tilts.
Ben Scrivens stopped all 37 shots to register his second straight shutout.
The victory improved the Leafs to 7-2-0 on the road, marking their best start
since 1940-41. The only other time the team had a better start as the visitor
was 1934-35, when it began 7-1-1.
"We're still very much a work in progress," said coach Randy Carlyle.
Toronto swept the season series from the Lightning in 2011-12, outscoring them
20-7 in the process. Tampa had swept the series the previous season.
The Sports Network