Stamkos, Steven

Lightning can't climb out of a three goal first period hole.

TB-3
COL-4

Olaf Kolzig allowed 3 goals on 10 shots before being pulled for Mike Smith who allowed 1 goal in 21 shots for the backdoor loss.

First Period
15:20 COL Leopold (4), (Svatos)(PP)
17:21 COL Wolski (3), (Svatos, Arnason)
18:57 COL Wolski (4), (Arnason, Svatos)

Second Period
12:17 TB Lecavalier (10), (Ranger, Malone)

Third Period
03:42 COL Jones (2), (McCormick, Clark)
09:19 TB Malone (7), (Eminger, Stamkos)(PP)
15:31 TB Stamkos (3), (Lecavalier, Eminger)(PP)

Obviously Ryan Malone and Steven Stamkos have started to come around in recent games, but keep an eye on Steve Eminger. The former high Capitals pick is finally starting to live up to his considerable offensive potential.

It may not come together in time to save this team's playoff ambitions, but we're starting to see some components of this team's future start to come together, both in Tampa and in Norfolk where there are a handful of players starting to get in line to make a move to the next level. Losses aside, I'm starting to get excited about some of the new foundation that is getting laid down.

Steve Downie had a fight and a blocked shot in 7:39.

Stamkos had 1 goal and 1 assist and was -1 with 2 shots and 1 hit in 21:42. He was also 50% on draws.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

Nik Backstrom owns the Lightning.

TB-2
MIN-4

Mike Smith allowed 3 goals on 32 shots in the loss.

First Period
12:07 MIN Nolan (3), (Miettinen, Sheppard)
19:20 TB Vrbata (3), (Stamkos, Ranger)(PP)

Second Period
09:51 TB Malone (6), (Lecavalier)

Third Period
02:01 MIN Sheppard (2), (Bergeron, Zidlicky)
06:10 MIN Koivu (6), (Miettinen, Bergeron)
19:37 MIN Belanger (6), (unassisted)

The Lightning had their chance to tie late on a 5-on-3 opportunity, but Nik Backstrom slammed the door.

Steve Downie had 2 shots, 1 hit, and 1 blocked shot in 6:05 in his Lightning debut.

Steven Stamkos had an assist and was -2 with 3 shots and 2 hits in a career high 20:32 of ice time. He also was 33% on draws.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

Anybody know what the NHL record is for combined overtime and shootout losses since the penalty shot session was instituted after the lockout?

NYR-3
TB-2 (SO)

Mike Smith allowed 2 goals on 35 shots before going 0-for-2 in the shootout to take yet another shootout loss.

First Period
NO SCORING

Second Period
02:40 NYR Naslund (8), (Rozsival, Zherdev)
04:09 TB Malone (5), (Lecavalier, Eminger)(PP)
17:57 NYR Naslund (9), (Rozsival, Zherdev)(PP)

Third Period
19:10 TB Recchi (5), (St. Louis, Meszaros)

Overtime
NO SCORING

Shootout
NYR- Naslund, Zherdev
TB- NONE

I remain amazed that a team with Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Jussi Jokinen on the roster is this incredibly bad in the shootout. Still, the team has to be thankful to get a late goal from the timeless Mark Recchi to claim a point for their efforts tonight.

Steven Stamkos had 1 shot and 3 hits and was 17% on draws in 16:06. He also got in a fight with Nikolai Zherdev. You fill in the punch line.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.

That was so ugly, they might want to burn the new alternate jerseys.

NJ-7
TB-3

Olaf Kolzig was lifted after allowing 5 goals on 28 shots for the loss before giving way to Karri Ramo who allowed 2 goals on 17 shots the rest of the way.

First Period
01:44 NJ Rupp, (Salmela, Clarkson)
17:37 NJ Parise (13), (Leach, Salmela)

Second Period
01:58 NJ Zubrus (3), (Langenbrunner, Paul Martin)
04:34 NJ Zubrus (4), (Elias, White)
11:39 NJ Gionta (6), (unassisted)
13:08 TB Vrbata (2), (Prospal, Craig)
14:40 TB St. Louis (5), (Lecavalier)
16:42 TB Malone (4), (unassisted)(PS)

Third Period
07:21 NJ Zubrus (5), (Elias)
14:38 NJ Zubrus (6), (Gionta, Elias)

Zubrus would be a Hall of Famer if all you looked at were his games against the Lightning.

The Lightning were outshot 45-29 in the game.

Steven Stamkos was -1 in 13:58 with 1 shot, 1 hit, and was 50% on draws.

Box score and extended statistics from NHL.com.