Sergei Gonchar registered a goal and an
assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, at
Mellon Arena.
Bill Guerin, Michael Rupp and Pascal Dupuis also lit the lamp for the
Penguins, who returned home after sweeping a four-game road trip. Sidney
Crosby notched two assists, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves to begin the
season a perfect 7-0-0.
Steven Stamkos had the lone goal for the Lightning, who were coming off their
worst setback of the season, a 7-1 drubbing in Ottawa on Thursday.
Antero Niittymaki was beaten four times on 33 shots in defeat.
Pittsburgh opened the scoring on the power play. Evgeni Malkin blasted a shot
from the right circle. Niittymaki made the save, but Guerin was on the
doorstep and banged home the rebound 4:57 into the game.
Gonchar tallied with 2:50 remaining in the first period, but Stamkos' scored
on the power play at 6:18 of the second to make it 2-1. Dupuis restored a two-
goal lead two minutes later, and Rupp added an insurance marker in the third.
Game Notes
Pittsburgh has won seven of the last nine meetings with the Lightning...The
Penguins opened a five-game homestand that resumes Tuesday against St.
Louis...Tampa Bay begins a four-game residency Thursday against San Jose...The
Lightning have allowed the first goal in each of its seven games this season.
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