Tampa Bay Lightning weekly report

On Thursday night, the Lightning jumped out to a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game on a power play against the Ottawa Senators, but the game ended on a sour note in 3-2 overtime loss.

Alex Tanguay slipped a loose puck into the net for the first score, but Ottawa got even two minutes later.

In the second period, the Senators and Lightning swapped goals. The Senators took the lead, but less than two minutes later the Bolts again netted a goal to tie the game 2-2.

In the third period, the Senators thought they got the go-ahead goal but it was disallowed, and then Antero Niittymaki kept the Lightning in the game with some great saves.

In overtime, though, a Ottawa's Jason Spezza rifled a shot that David Hale got a stick on as he tried to block the shot. He slowed the puck, but also redirected it over Niittymaki's left shoulder for the score and an Ottawa win.

That wasn't the only loss, though. Victor Hedman left the game in the second period after taking a hard hit.

The Lightning jumped out to a first-period 2-0 lead Saturday against the Canadiens, and that was enough. The final was 3-1 for the Bolts.

The absence of star defenseman Victor Hedman was felt early on as the Canadiens dominated the Bolts' offensive zone, but goaltender Antero Niittymaki continued to block the shots.

Less than 10 minutes into the first period, Ryan Malone crashed the net, wrangled the loose puck from the top of the crease and fired a shot that rebounded. He then managed to get it into put the Lightning up 1-0.

Just before the horn sounded, Malone got a pass from Vincent Lecavalier and fired a shot that rebounded, and Alex Tanquay scored to make it 2-0.

In the second period, the Canadiens scored on a power play, but Niittymaki held his ground and stopped several more tough shots. Tanquay hit the post on his shot, but James Wright knocked the puck into the net to make it 3-1, a score that held through the third period.