|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Lightning took a small step
forward.
Kristian Kudroc scored his first NHL goal to snap a
second-period tie as the Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2
Thursday night. Kudroc was reassigned to Detroit of the IHL after
the win.
"I was pretty happy to score a goal," said Kudroc of his shot
that went off goaltender Martin Biron's glove. "I just shot the
puck and didn't look at it go on goal. I was very happy (when I
heard the crowd reaction)."
Kudroc's goal from the left circle, which made it 3-2, helped
the Lightning win back-to-back games for the first time since Dec.
26-28. Since that time, Tampa Bay has gone 3-13-1-1.
"A lot of winning is just experiencing winning and knowing what
it feels like to win," said Lightning goaltender Kevin Weekes, who
made 23 saves. "Hopefully that is something we can sustain."
Rookie scoring leader Brad Richards' 15th goal put the Lightning
up 1-0 in the first period. He tied the team record for goals by a
rookie.
"When you win a game, you're a little more confident,"
Richards said. "You that feeling, yea, we're going to win this
thing."
Martin St. Louis gave Tampa Bay a two-goal lead with a
second-period shorthanded goal.
Goals by Stu Barnes and Doug Gilmour 54 seconds apart midway
through the second period got the Sabres even. It was Gilmour's
first goal in 18 games and moved him within two points of Gilbert
Perreault (1,326) for 19th place in career scoring.
Buffalo has lost five of six, including consecutive road games
at Florida and Tampa Bay.
"Teams go through slumps. There's no reason and no excuse for
losing," Buffalo defenseman Rhett Warrener said. "We're paid to
win. We're going to start concentrating more."
Added veteran forward Dave Andreychuk, "All teams are going to
go through some low times. This is a good time for us to have a
break and look ourselves in the mirror."
Tampa Bay's Mike Johnson was stopped on a penalty shot at 11:41
of the second period by Biron. But Johnson scored his first goal in
24 games in the third period to make it 4-2.
"It was nice for us to play well in the third," Johnson said.
"For a stretch there, every time we got a lead or were tied in the
third period, we just kind of folded. It was good to see us finally
get one."
Game notes
The Lightning acquired RW Matthew Barnaby from Pittsburgh
for C Wayne Primeau and also signed free agent D Grant Ledyard. ...
Tampa Bay C Vincent Lecavalier, who missed his 11th game with a
broken left foot, hopes to resume skating Monday. ... Sabres C
Curtis Brown (back spasms) missed his second game.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Buffalo Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 3
Boston 0
Philadelphia 2
NY Islanders 0
Washington 5
Toronto 4
Carolina 3
Atlanta 1
Tampa Bay 4
Buffalo 2
Columbus 2
St. Louis 2
Calgary 5
Chicago 3
Anaheim 4
Phoenix 2
Dallas 4
San Jose 2
Vancouver 5
Colorado 3
Nashville 6
Los Angeles 4
|
