Looking to tie their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at one game apiece, the Tampa Bay Lightning have started off Game 2 with a bang. Goals by Eric Brewer, Vincent Lecavalier, and Nate Thompson have given Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins after one period.
The scoring started early. With Pittsburgh’s Maxime Talbot and Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis both in the penalty box and the teams skating four on four, Brewer zipped a shot by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to give Tampa Bay its first goal and lead of the series.
At the 6:53 mark, the Lightning added to their lead on the power play when Lecavalier scored at the front of the net off a feed from Simon Gagne. Then with a little less than three minutes left in the period, Penguins defenseman Paul Martin fumbled a puck at center ice. Steve Downie took possession, broke in on Fleury and took a low wrist shot. Fleury made the save, but gave up a big rebound and was out of position for Thompson’s follow-up shot, which found an open net.
Through one period, the Lightning are hitting back after a few highlight-reel checks from Pittsburgh in Game 1, and they’re scoring back as well. It may be tough for the Penguins to keep up on the scoreboard without their two biggest offensive weapons.