by Shi Davidi, The Canadian Press , The Hamilton Spectator

Malone tapped home an awkward winner that bounced over Jonas Gustavsson moments after John Mitchell nearly won it for the Maple Leafs on a pretty rush, with the puck nearly taking another funny hop into the goal. Malone's goal stood up after a video review.

In other action, the Montreal Canadiens lost 5-4 to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Vincent Lecavalier also scored for Lightning (5-4-4), who won their first road game of the season (1-4-1).

Ian White replied for the Maple Leafs (1-7-5), who have lost four straight games in extra time and remained winless at home (0-4-2) before a crowd of 19,301. That came despite the best efforts of Kessel, who played over 23 minutes and had 10 shots.

White tied things up at 5:04 of the third period, when his shot from the slot slipped through Antero Niittymaki on a power play.

The Maple Leafs , red hot with the extra man last week, wasted their first six opportunities, including a two-man edge for 49 seconds early in the middle frame, and another in the final minutes.

Kessel buzzed around the ice over the first two periods with seven shots -- bouncing back no worse for the wear after absorbing a wicked hit from Mattias Ohlund at the Lightning blue-line as he tried to dance into the zone in the first -- but it was the slumping Lecavalier who opened the scoring.

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