THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Tampa Bay Lightning ended the teams six game losing streak defeating the Florida Panthers. Benoit Pouliot scored two goals, including the winner in overtime.
Steven Stamkos also scored twice, and Teddy Purcell and Alexander Killorn once each for the Lightning. Between the pipes, Anders Lindback made 25 saves.
Purcell put the game into overtime with eleven seconds left in regulation. The goal tied the game at 5-5 .
Purcell’s shot from the slot bounced off the post and into the net.
Tampa Bay Lightning Overtime for the Win!
Breaking the tie, the winning shot saw the puck bounce off the end boards. Then out to Pouliot, who was open in front of the net. A solid wrist shot went into the twine at 1:19 into overtime.
Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the third period to put the Panthers ahead. Jerred Smithson, Jack Skille, and Shawn Matthias also scored, and Jose Theodore stopped 30 shots for the Panthers.
Heading into the game, the Lightning’s coach Guy Boucher was quietly confident his team was ready to go. Boucher said, “These guys know. We’ve talked about, we’ve watched video and they know, so that’s why we didn’t have a long practice today, there were no meetings, they know.”
“Their mental state is fine,” continued Coach Boucher. “We sabotaged ourselves, but that speaks about our maturity level. We had too many turnovers and guys are getting impatient, and that shows that we need to be more mature.”
The Lightning stepped up on Saturday afternoon, and the overtime win helps the team in boosting their maturity.
Tampa Bay vs Florida Panthers
Lightning vs Panthers 02/16/13 by NHL
Injury Report
Heading into the game, Anders Lindback was questionable. “If he feels up to it, he will start,” shared Coach Boucher. “I’m waiting to see how good he is, and he feels good, he’ll go.”
Lindback did not start the Tampa Bay Lightning’s most recent game against the Washington Capitals. He was fighting illness, but was back at the rink Friday morning, so it appears it was the flu.
