The Bolts have had so many chances. The eye-test would say the Lightning are dominant this evening, but the score says otherwise. The Lightning have only bested Florida by two shots on goal, but you wouldn't know that watching from home. Regardless, the Bolts trail 4-3 after the second.
Tampa Bay has certainly dominated the game in Penalty Infraction Minutes (25, vs. Florida's 11). A mere 2:35 into the second, Kris Versteeg scored on a powerplay to make the Bolts pay. The penalty was a tripping call against Martin St. Louis, a rare sight against such a clean player. St. Louis was clearly upset with the call and continued his frustrations from the box, talking to himself and brewing. The Lightning clearly responded angrily on his behalf and have sent a barrage on the Florida goal, to little avail.
Amid the Lightning flurry of attacks on goal, former Lightning player Sean Bergenheim got a breakaway on a Lightning pass back to center. He took it down to Roloson and went top-shelf to score on his former team, pushing the score to 4-2. Lecavalier, not one to let things get out of hand, answered soon after and tucked the puck behind the top right shoulder of the left-handed Florida goalie, a brilliant placement in the weakest corner of their net. Some might call it "textbook."
With less than two minutes left in the period, Dominic Moore was called for slashing as he stopped a scoring opportunity for the Panthers. The Florida powerplay will continue into the third, and be forewarned. Florida is 3-for-4 on previous powerplays and pose a threat.