ONE.
WSH-2
TB-3 (Shootout)
The Lightning made up one of the two games in hand they had on Southeast Division leading Atlanta and took a somewhat difficult two points from Washington with a 3-2 shootout win. The Lightning pulled within just one point of the Thrashers. The Bolts improved to 8-1 on the year in the shootout, making me a fan of it for as long as this continues.
Marc Denis got a rare start in net and flashed a little glove and little attitude in stopping 36 shots in regulation and overtime and all three shootout attempts to get the win. After making an rubber-arm glove save on Alexander Ovechkin in the third, Denis turned his head and glared at the superstar.
Vincent Lecavalier [4] increased his league-leading goal total to 39 with both of Tampa Bay’s goals in regulation (one PPG, one SHG). Martin St. Louis [5] had the shootout winner as the third shooter for the Lightning. Denis had to make a Hasek-like sprawling save on a deking Matt Pettinger [6] to secure the win. Kudos to Denis’ armpit for that one. Assists on the night went to Dan Boyle, who became the all-time Lightning leader in points for a defenseman, Brad Richards [7], and St. Louis.
Kudos to Sun Sports’ Rick Peckham for pointing out Washington’s Eric Fehr is the former linemate of Ryan Craig [8] from their WHL days in Brandon. Those guys, along with the Predators' Jordin Tootoo, were dynamite for the Wheat Kings. The Caps also featured Jeff Shultz, a former Calgary Hitmen teammate of Springfield’s Mike Egener [9]. Shultz was taken in the late first round of the 2004 draft; Egener at the top of the second round in 2003.
1st Period
Washington 9:07, Alexander Semin 30 (power play) (Dainius Zubrus)
2nd Period
Tampa Bay 2:44, Vincent Lecavalier 38 (power play) (Dan Boyle, Brad Richards)
Tampa Bay 7:05, Vincent Lecavalier 39 (shorthanded) (Martin St. Louis)
3rd Period
Washington 19:45, Dainius Zubrus 20 (unassisted)
OT Period
None
Shootout
Tampa Bay misses: Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards
Tampa Bay goals: Martin St. Louis
Washington misses: Alexander Semin, Alexander Ovechkin, Matt Pettinger
Game sheet from NHL.com [10].