Tampa Bay Lightning weekly report

Last Wednesday, the Lightning had little to be thankful for in their 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period against Bolts goaltender Antero Niittymaki.

The Lightning came back with two goals 30 seconds apart by Andrej Meszaros and Vincent Lecavalier to make it 2-2. But in the second period, the Leafs scored for a 3-2 lead, and Ryan Malone then netted a goal to make it 3-3.

But then the Leafs managed a goal in the third period to break the tie and give them the victory.

Maybe it was some good turkey and stuffing, but the Lightning came roaring back Friday to pound the New York Rangers 5-1. The Lightning received a goal each from Steven Stamkos, Steve Downie, Paul Szczechura, and two from Kurtis Foster. Goaltender Mike Smith stopped 26 of 27 shots on goal.

Stamkos scored at 6:44 in the first, and Foster fired a shot just before the horn sounded to give the Bolts a 2-0 lead going into the second period. The goals kept coming and the Rangers scored late in the third but by then it was too late for them, and the Bolts had another win and another great performance.

On Saturday, the Lightning took on the Dallas Stars and almost made it two straight, but a Dallas goal in overtime gave the Stars a 4-3 win.

Paul Szczechura, playing in just his ninth NHL game this season after being recalled from AHL Norfolk, scored his second goal in as many games to put the game’s first tally on the scoreboard in the second period.

The Stars came back with two just 1:11 apart for a 2-1 lead, and then extended the lead to 3-1.

Steven Stamkos got the Bolts back into the game in the third period and then Jeff Halpern knotted the score at 3-3 just 47 seconds later. But just 2:12 into overtime, goaltender Mike Smith missed the puck and the Stars came away the winners.

On Monday, the Lightning came away with nothing in their 3-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Steven Stamkos had a good scoring chance just 24 seconds into the game, and Antero Niittymaki stopped 26 shots. With the Avalanche up 2-0 in the third period, Wojtek Wolski fired a shot into an empty Bolts net for the 3-0 final with 19:46 of the third.