The Tampa Bay Lightning will aim for a third straight
victory when they visit the Ottawa Senators tonight at Scotiabank Place.
The Lightning had lost their first three games of 2009-10, pushing their
losing streak to 12 games dating back to last season, but have since notched
back-to-back home wins. Tampa ended the slide with a 5-2 victory Saturday
against Carolina and then posted a close victory over Florida on Monday.
Ryan Malone scored the game-winning goal late in the third period, as the
Lightning rallied to edge the Panthers, 3-2, in a battle between Southeast
Division foes at St. Pete Times Forum. Malone has recorded four goals in his
last two games and has five markers on the season.
Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos each had a goal and an assist for the
Lightning. Vincent Lecavalier had a pair of assists, while Antero Niittymaki
stopped 31-of-33 shots for the victors.
"I don't think we really played our best game, but we got two points and I
think it's the sign of a good team," said Niittymaki. "Even if you're not on
the top of your game and you're still able to get two points...it's a long
year and it happens sometimes."
Niittymaki has both victories for Tampa this season, but he will resume his
backup role tonight as No. 1 netminder Mike Smith is expected to man the
crease after getting a two-game rest.
The Bolts also expect to have defenseman Kurtis Foster back in the lineup this
evening after he missed the last four games with a lower-body injury suffered
in the season opener.
Tampa is 0-1-1 on the road so far this season and is kicking off a brief two-
game swing tonight. The Lightning will also stop in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Senators, meanwhile, will try to get back on track tonight after having a
three-game winning streak snapped by Pittsburgh on Monday. Tyler Kennedy
scored a pair of goals and Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves to lift the
Penguins to the easy 4-1 win at Scotiabank Place.
Milan Michalek had the lone goal for the Senators, while Pascal Leclaire let
in all four goals on 28 shots in defeat.
This evening's game marks the end of a four-game homestand for the Sens, who
are 2-1-0 as the host this year.
Ottawa won three of four meetings with the Lightning last year and has taken
five of seven overall in the series. Tampa has also dropped two straight,
three of four and eight of its last 10 contests in Canada's capital city.
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