Tampa Bay Lightning score four unanswered goals to rally past the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Tampa Bay Lightning offence made a huge statement on Wednesday night by turning a 3-1 first period deficit into a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
How it happened
After Lightning center Dana Tyrell opened the scoring with his first NHL goal, the Penguins answered back with two quick shorthanded goals from Craig Adams and Matt Cooke.
When Pascal Dupuis got his second of the season at 12:19 of the first period to put the Penguins up 3-1, Lightning starting-goalie Mike Smith got the hook after letting in three goals on seven shots. Dan Ellis came in to replace him.
The change in goal sparked a turnaround as the Lightning made it 3-2 when Teddy Purcell got his first of the season.
Vincent Lecavalier got the only goal of the second period on the power play with his third of the season.
Martin St. Louis then put the Lightning in front at 6:40 of the third before scoring an empty-netter with only 30 seconds on the clock to the seal the victory for the Lightning.
Last season's co-Maurice Richard Trophy winners Steven Stamkos and Sidney Crosby were both unable to notch goals, but Stamkos did manage to shine in the role of provider by collecting three assists. Crosby was limited to just a single point on Dupuis' goal.
It was also a rough game for Marc-Andre Fleury who was getting his first start since October 13 and watched his team's lead evaporate as he has now lost four of his five starts this season.
What they're saying
The main talking point after the game was the Lightning's comeback after making the goaltending switch.
"You throw him in there and he gives you a chance to get back in it," St. Louis said of Ellis. "That's great."
"We came back and made it happen," Lightning head coach Guy Boucher said about his team's turnaround. "It's a tribute to the kind of people we have on this team. The guys care about each other and want to play for each other.
"We believe when no one does. That's our motto."
"There's not much to say. We got beat," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who was as quiet in the locker room as he was on the ice. "Gave up too many opportunities and didn't execute on the ones we got. We didn't deserve that one, definitely."
The Penguins now return home after three games on the road and host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday October 29.
The Lightning play next on Saturday as they travel to Arizona to take on the Phoenix Coyotes.
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