Quite simply the best game the Lightning have played this season.
NYR-1
TB-5
Mike Smith [8] allowed 1 goal on 27 shots for the victory.
First Period
TB 6:54, Stamkos 16 (St Louis, Hedman)
TB 19:24, Foster 2 (St Louis, Lecavalier)(PP)
Second Period
TB 8:05, Downie 3 (St Louis, Stamkos)(PP)
TB 12:25, Szczechura 1 (Wright, Walker)
Third Period
TB 8:24, Foster 3 (Konopka)
NYR 17:53, Callahan 4 (Anisimov, Staal)
The Lightning have struggled to get shots on goal, and they finally got to 30 tonight (31) even with the Rangers blocking quite a few shots (14). If the Lightning can get up over 30 shots a game consistently, I believe they're going to start scoring 3-4 goals a night and they've got enough goaltending to make it stand up.
More than just the shots and the goals, though, I thought the Lightning also physically handled the Rangers. Walker and Konopka both treated Brian Boyle like a speed bag with eyes and the Lightning outhit the Rangers 15-13.
One other thing: Recent BoltProspects graduate Steve Downie [9] and Kurtis Foster [10] are really coming on lately. Downie, in particular, has an unbelievable knack for breaking up passes and clearing attempts along the wall. He's a lot like fellow little guy Martin St. Louis [11] in that respect.
Zenon Konopka [12] had an assist and was +1 with 17 penalty minutes, 3 hits, and 1 blocked shot in 8:16. He was also 75% on draws, including the clean win that got him the helper on Foster's second goal. More than that, though, he landed a couple of nice bombs on Brian Boyle after Boyle made a dangerous hit on young Mr. Wright.
Paul Szczechura [13] got his nose bloodied and then responded with a 1 goal, +1 performance with 2 penalty minutes, 3 shots, and he was 69% on draws in 14:34. It was his best game of the season, and given the circumstances Coach Tocchet may want to take a stick and pop Chewey square in the nose before every game.
James Wright [14] had a helper and was +1 in 13:55.
Victor Hedman [15] had 1 assist and was +1 with 1 shot and 1 blocked shot in 21:33. He's looked a little lost without Ohlund, but he played a strong, workmanlike game tonight.
Box score [16] and extended statistics [17] from NHL.com.