TAMPA, FL - Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher must have read the papers or watched some Versus post game coverage following their shootout loss against the Washington Capitals Monday night. Boucher was universally criticized in the media for his choice of shootout participants as Dominik Moore, Adam Hall, and Vincent Lecavalier failed to net a point in the 2-1 shootout loss. Given a second opportunity Wednesday night Boucher would not make the same mistake twice, this time putting the game in the hands of his superstars Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, and former MVP Martin St. Louis. With a dazzling spin-o-rama-backhand shot, St. Louis would convert the only shootout goal giving the Lightning their first victory in five games as they defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
St. Louis also had a goal in regulation, forward Teddy Purcell scored, and Steven Stamkos added his league leading 42nd goal en route to a 3-1 Lightning lead before Blackhawks captain Johnathan Toews and star Patrick Sharp scored to force overtime. For Stamkos, it was only his 2nd goal in 13 games as the young center has struggled of late.
Goalie Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves, and stopped all three shootout attempts to earn the victory, while Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford made 27 saves in defeat.
With the win the Lightning snapped a season long 4-game losing streak that has seen the team fall out of first place in the Southeastern conference. The Blackhawks lost for the second straight game, both on the road, after winning nine straight.