Stamkos' hat trick leads Lightning to win
Watch highlights
Share This Story
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)
Guy Boucher obviously enjoys Steven Stamkos' offensive skills. The Tampa Bay coach is also impressed with the high-scoring center's improving defensive play.
Stamkos had his second hat trick this season and fifth overall to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
''His back-checking ... four or five times he was just a jet out there,'' Boucher said. ''You know what? He's part of the team.''
Stamkos scored his third goal of the game and 26th of the season from the left circle on a power-play 43 seconds into the third. Just 22 seconds later Tampa Bay went up 4-2 on a goal by Teddy Purcell.
''He's pretty hot,'' Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis said of Stamkos. ''He's flying.''
The Lightning have won three in a row and five of seven.
''That was icing on the cake,'' Stamkos said of his hat trick.
Carolina, 1-7-2 in Southeast Division games this season, got goals from Justin Faulk and Jay Harrison.
DADDY'S GIRL
Paulina Gretzky caused a stir with her Twitter account. Here's what the fuss was about.''Tampa was ready in the third and we weren't, and they outplayed us,'' Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said.
Hurricanes captain Eric Staal had two assists, giving him three assists and five points in his last two games.
St. Louis, who finished with three assists, recorded his 500th career assist on Stamkos' third goal.
''I'm proud of that,'' St. Louis said. ''It's an honor to play this game.''
The Lightning record for goals in a game is four, set by Chris Kontos in the team's first game on Oct. 7, 1992 against Chicago.
Steve Downie scored a third-period goal at 6:51 and also had two assists for the Lightning. Mathieu Garon made 24 saves.
Carolina's Cam Ward stopped 27 shots.
After Harrison scored a power-play goal 4:29 into the second, Stamkos got Tampa Bay even at 2 from the slot at 8:17.
Stamkos put the Lightning up 1-0 off a pass through the crease by St. Louis during a 2-on-1 at 3:22 of the first. Stamkos has 10 goals and three assists over his last eight games.
''He's a world-class player,'' Muller said. ''When you give him opportunities like that, he's going to capitalize. He plays at a high tempo. He's a natural goal scorer, and he makes players better around him.''
St. Louis has seven assists and one goal during a five-game point streak
Faulk tied it at 1 on a rebound power-play goal from the low left circle with 3:48 remaining in the first. The Hurricanes entered play with the NHL's third-worst power play.
''Once they got that third goal, our play broke down there,'' Faulk said. ''We've got to learn to play 60-minute games.''
NOTES: Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman said D Victor Hedman, hurt in Tuesday night's game against Philadelphia, has a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely. ... Staal played in his 600th NHL game. Teammate, C Tuomo Ruutu, appeared in his 500th NHL game. ... Tampa Bay C Nate Thompson (lower body) will be re-evaluated Monday, while Lightning RW Ryan Shannon (knee) is two to three weeks from returning. ... Faulk and Harrison both stopped personal eight-game goal droughts. ... Harrison was minus-4 for the game.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Manager: Boxer Williams paralyzed
Paul Williams paralyzed in crash but aims to return to ring, trainer says. -
Bonds faces future, can't forget past
Barry Bonds is publicly referring to himself as a convicted felon these days, and he'... -
Two killed as rally car strikes crowd
A race car went out of control on a rural Irish road and crashed into a crowd of abou... -
Mickelson in group out to buy Padres
Phil Mickelson has joined a group of investors who want to buy his hometown Major Lea... -
Roddick doesn't deserve all this blame
We can't hold Roddick to unfair standard any longer.
NHL Videos
Stanley Cup Preview: X Factors
Posted: May 29, 2012
FOX Sports' Larry Murphy channels Simon Cowell to pick his Stanley Cup Final X F...
FOX Sports' Larry Murphy channels Simon Cowell to pick his Stanley Cup Final X F...
Stanley Cup Preview: Key Matchups
Posted: May 28, 2012
FOX Sports' Larry Murphy breaks down the key matchups between the Kings and the ...
FOX Sports' Larry Murphy breaks down the key matchups between the Kings and the ...
Stanley Cup Preview: Coaches & Strategy
Posted: May 28, 2012
Who will be drinking out of the Stanley Cup? FOX Sports' Larry Murphy makes his ...
Who will be drinking out of the Stanley Cup? FOX Sports' Larry Murphy makes his ...
NHL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Pittsburgh Penguins #87 Sidney Crosby Black Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 124.95 | Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack |
| Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 | 11.95 | Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick |
| Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Jose_Sharks/browse/featuredproduct/700543/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_700000/ff_700543_xl.jpg&w=100 | 17.95 | Reebok San Jose Sharks In-Stick-Tive T-Shirt - Black |
| Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.