Tampa Bay Lightning weekly report

Last Wednesday, the Lightning managed to climb out of a 3-0 hole against the Buffalo Sabres, but couldn't overcome a two-goal deficit in the final period and lost 5-3.

Martin St. Louis and Victor Hedman scored in the opening period to cut an early Sabres lead to 3-2, and Vincent Lecavalier added a goal in the second period, but it wasn't enough despite a final period flurry of 13 shots on the Buffalo goal that were blocked successfully.

The Sabres netted three goals in just over two minutes, a club record, in the first period. After the Bolts hit back to tie it, the Sabres retook the lead in the second period and then extended it. A slap shot by Mattias Ohlund ricocheted off the post late in the game, but the Sabres held onto the lead to the end.

On Saturday, the Lightning made an effort but fell 4-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers. In fact, the Bolts only score of the game came with seven minutes left in regulation, and put the Lightning down by just one.

Antero Niittymaki stopped 28 of 31 shots and held the Flyers to just one goal in the first two periods. He also made some spectacular saves. But the Bolts' offense didn't reciprocate.

With a 3-1 lead in the third period, the Flyers iced it with an empty-net goal near the end.

On Sunday, the Lightning resumed a game against the New Jersey Devils that was suspended Friday night due to a partial power failure at the Prudential Center.

Lightning goaltender Mike Smith held a 3-0 lead into the midpoint of the second period and stopped 33 of 35 shots to lead the Bolts to a 4-2 win.

Steve Downie opened the scoring on a power play at 6:58 in the first period, and Brandon Bochenski extended the lead to 2-0 with a goal in the second period, and at 10:04 in the second period, Steven Stamkos found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.

The Devils managed a score about halfway through the final period, but Stamkos found the net again. They tried to come back but managed only one more goal.

The Lightning on Tuesday unleashed a torrent of scoring in their 7-4 win over the Washington Capitals.

Bolts goaltender Mike Smith stopped six of seven shots before he left the game after a collision in the crease at the end of the first period. Antero Niittymaki took over and stopped 22 of 24 shots.

A pair of goals by Steven Stamkos and one each from Vincent Lecavalier and Stephane Veilleux gave the Lightning a 4-1 lead at the first intermission after Alexander Semin put the Capitals on the board at 14:05.

In the second period, the Capitals replied with three goals, but then Martin St. Louis helped the Lightning with a goal to give the Bolts a 5-4 lead going into the final period.

Kurtis Foster netted a goal at at the four minute mark and Jeff Halpern scored on a 3-on-2 rush to seal it.