Tampa Bay Lightning weekly report

Last Thursday night, the Lightning took a 2-1 lead into the third period but gave up two goals to the Florida Panthers and lost 3-2.

Jeff Halpern and Steve Downie got goals in the loss. Halpern had a rebound goal at 9:40 in the first period, and Downie gave the Bolts a 2-1 lead with 7:20 to go in the period.

The Panthers had jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 5:58 of the first period.

A two-goal rally in the third gave the Panthers the win with scores at 8:53 and then the winning goal with 7:39 left to play.

On Saturday, the Lightning tried to get revenge against the Panthers but fell short again, losing 5-2.

The Bolts had a season-high 49 shots on goal, but only attempts by Alex Tanquay and Andrej Meszaros managed to find the net.

The Panthers took a 2-0 lead and Tanquay put the Bolts on the board at 11:44. Meszaros evened the score on a power play.

But the Panthers took the lead in the first and added two in the second against goaltender Antero Niittymaki. Dustin Tokarski made his NHL debut in goal, replacing Niittymaki. He stopped all five shots he faced in the final period.

On Monday, the Lightning came out on top when the buzzer sounded, beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.

Goaltender Antero Niittymaki made his third straight start in net and stopped 20 of 22 shots, including a spectacular series of saves in the second period.

Ryan Malone opened the scoring for the Bolts at 11:07 in the first period for a 1-0 lead. The Hurricanes tied the game at 16:28 of the second period, but then Vincent Lecavalier put the Lightning ahead again 2-1 with a power play goal two and a half minutes later.

The Hurricanes tied the game again in the third period, but the Lightning came right back, with Steve Downie putting them up 3-2 at 9:11 and sealing the victory with his first game-winner of the season.

On Tuesday night, the Lightning got goals from Vincent Lecavalier and Alex Tanquay against the New York Rangers, but a flurry of Ranger goals left the Bolts behind in their 8-2 loss.

Goaltender Antero Niittymaki had a rough night in goal, making only 15 saves on 20 shots. His replacement for the night, Dustin Tokarski, surrendered three goals in his second NHL appearance.