Tampa Bay Lightning power play strikes to end Dallas Stars unbeaten streak
The Tampa Bay Lightning scored four power play goals en route to a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars, ending the Stars' four-game unbeaten run.
How it happened
The Lightning power play looked to be in trouble early on when Stephane Robidas broke up a pass in his own end while shorthanded. Toby Petersen picked up the loose puck before turning on the jets and taking
the puck all the way down the ice and firing a hard wrister past Kari Lehtonen.
The Lightning didn't take long to tie it up, doing so on the very same power play, when Steve Downie tipped in a point shot from Martin St. Louis.
The Lightning got a second power play goal right before the end of the first period when Steven Stamkos got his fifth of the season.
Dallas' Adam Burish and Tampa's Sean Bergenheim each got their first of the season, when the two teams traded goals midway through the second, before the Lightning got another power play goal late in the
period from Dominic Moore.
Moore scored his second of the night, and fourth of the season, again on the power play, at 6:11 of the third to put the Lightning up 5-2.
Thirteen seconds later and the Stars began to mount a comeback when Brendan Morrow scored his fifth of the season. James Neal got his third of the season with only a minute to go but by then it was too
little too late.
What they're saying
The obvious talking point after the game was the Lightning power play, but Stars head coach Marc Crawford put a different spin on things choosing to highlight his team's anemic penalty killing unit.
"We couldn't kill a penalty to save our life," he said.
Although their power play gets the credit for getting the goals, the Lightning were happy with their performance in all areas.
"The focus every game right now is on improvement, whether we win or lose," Lightning forward Dominic Moore said. "I thought tonight was one of our most complete efforts of the season."
What it all means
Monday's match up of the Stars and Lightning was an early contest between two sides who have raced to the top of the NHL standings. The loss was Dallas' first of the season as both teams are now 4-1.
The Stars stay in Florida to take on the Panthers on Thursday October 21 before they head back to Dallas for a six-game home stand.
The Lightning were without Vincent Lecavalier who was sidelined after picking up a hand injury in last Saturday's game against the Florida Panthers. The Lightning next play host to the New York Islanders
on Thursday 21 October.
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