“We didn’t score a power-play goal, but we got good looks”.
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Jason Spezza is on an offensive roll.
The Sabres are 16-42 in their last 58 games playing on 1 days rest and 10-45 in their last 55 road games. He’s played all four games for the Stars and turned in four points (two goals and two assists).
Dallas coach Lindy Ruff expected the defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning to make a third-period push. We’re touching on all the right things.
WORLD CUP: Lightning assistant general manager Pat Verbeek was named director of player personnel for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Vladislav Namestnikov (7:06) and Stamkos (8:44) scored 1:38 apart in the third to get the Lightning within 4-3. With the home crowd adding to Tampa Bay’s momentum, Spezza stopped the rally with a wide goal past Bishop with 9:31 left, his fourth of the season.
Spezza has 21 goals and 52 points in 39 games against Tampa Bay.
Dallas extended its lead to 3-1 in the second period, with center Cody Eakin scoring his third goal of the season, set up by a strong pass from forward Mattias Janmark.
The Stars’ first four games have shown fans a lot of positives: above-average goaltending, depth scoring, team defense, and a compete level and willingness to battle that should result in far fewer head-shaking losses.
However, a poor game by the Stars in Colorado and a lackluster performance from Niemi opened the door for Lehtonen to reassert himself, and he’s taken advantage. As for the Lightning, they have allowed five power play goals on 12 opportunities so their penalty kill has struggled in the early going. The Lightning failed to record a shot on goal for the first seven minutes of the period. Thanks to Cooper’s steady hand, Stamkos’ versatility and willingness to play wherever needed, the development of defenseman Victor Hedman and the chemistry of the triplets line of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning should again be one of the best teams in the league this season.
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Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves in his season debut Tuesday after backing up Antti Niemi, while 2013 first-round pick Valeri Nichushkin was a healthy scratch because of a slow start. McKenzie was recalled from Dallas of the AHL on Wednesday after RW Patrick Eaves went on injured reserve Wednesday with a lower body injury…. Hedman plays monster minutes, in all situations, and the Norris Trophy caliber defenseman is one player Tampa Bay can ill afford to lose.
