Penguins Vs. Lightning Score: Pittsburgh Holds Early Lead, But Tampa Bay Hanging Tough

The Tampa Bay Lightning certainly didn't start Monday's game with the Pittsburgh Penguins they way they would have liked. But they recovered toward the end of the first and entered the first intermission down just 2-1.

The game started out with a fast pace, having just two stoppages before the Penguins struck for their first goal. A little over five minutes onto the game, Tampa Bay's Scott Downie delivered a monster hit on Ben Lovejoy behind the Pittsburgh net, which was about to be called a penalty. However, Lovejoy got the puck to Maxime Talbot, who was able to put the puck past Dwayne Roloson for a 1-0 lead.

The Penguins maintained that momentum when they netted a second goal less than a minute later. Coming down the win with the puck, Mike Rupp got around the Tampa defender and then found the next one dropping to the ice. Rupp took advantage by passing the puck to Arron Asham, who scored the team's second goal from 19 feet out.

Taking advantage on their second power play of the period, the Lightning reduced their deficit to one goal when Martin St. Louis slipped one past Marc-Andre Fleury. Simon Gagne got two shots on Fleury before Martin St. Louis picked up the rebound and placed it in the back of the net.