Tampa Bay-Minnesota: Lightning Strikes Twice in the Third Period to Win Again

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The Minnesota Wild came into to Tampa desperate to get onto the winning track that their players and fans alike expect from them.

Through two periods of play, that seemed like a very good possibility for Minnesota, but there are three periods in hockey and The Lightning would strike twice to force an overtime and an eventual shootout.

The first period saw Minnesota grab the 1-0 lead late in the period as Beniot Pouliot snuck a backhander past Anterro Nittymaki.

The second period was dominated on the shot cart by Minnesota. The Wild out shot the Lightning 11-4 in the second frame, while Kim Jhonsson grew Minnesota's lead to two goals early in the second while in the power play.

But as Minnesota's power play netted them a goal, it also cost them a goal as Steven Stamkos only five minutes later scored on Niklas Backstrom short handed to bring the Wild lead back to one. Wiley veteran Owen Nolan then took center stage as his unassisted wrist shot found the twine to regain Minnesota's lead to two goals going into the second intermission.

But as what seems to be the norm for the Wild, a seriously deficient third period allowed the Lightning to crawl back into the game. First Steve Downie netted his second of the year on an ugly three on two rush. And then, with about one minute left in the game and Minnesota grasping to a one goal lead, Marek Zidlicky takes a lazy hooking penalty that gives Tampa Bay the opening they were looking for.

As Anterro Nittymaki sat on the bench in favor of the extra attacker, Ryan Malone pushed a back hand past Backstrom to give Tampa the game-tying goal going into over time.

In over time, neither team could gain any real advantage as they traded very few scoring chances. Next up the shoot out.

Vinny Lecavalier scored Tampa's first shoot out goal of the season in the first round to give Tampa the edge after one round 1-0. Martin Havlat may have thought he had some magic in his stick starting off the second round, but Nittymaki quickly showed he was wise to Havlat's move. Steven Stamkos was up second for Tampa, and Like Lecavalier Stamkos snapped the twine giving Tampa the 4-3 shootout win. 

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