Tampa Bay Lightning Vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Lightning Lead 4-1 After Two Periods

Brett Clark added a goal to the three the Tampa Bay Lightning scored in the first period, and they have come in and are 20 minutes away from spoiling what was anticipated at as a party at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Tampa leads the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 after two periods. The Hurricanes needed a victory to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs after the New York Rangers had won their game earlier today. Now, it appears it will take a miraculous effort to even give the Canes a shot at getting in, though they got some momentum with a power play goal by Cory Stillman. Tampa Bay has outshot Carolina 28-26.

Clark’s goal came at 10:53 of the period. He took a pass from Vinny Lecavalier and just wristed one through a defender’s legs and past Ward, who certainly looked poor on that one, even if you couldn’t pin the other three Tampa Bay goals on him. It was Clark’s ninth of the season.

The Hurricanes got a 1:57-long 5-on-3 with seven and a half minutes remaining in the second period. Dominic Moore and Dana Tyrell took interference and tripping penalties at 12:29 and 12:23. Stillman skated in from the half-boards and wristed a shot that went off something in front and past Mike Smith took give the Hurricanes something to build on in the third period. Carolina’s now 1-for-5 on the man advantage, while Tampa Bay is 0-for-1, and didn’t get a power play during the second.

Mike Smith looked excellent in the second period whenever there were defensive lapses by the Lightning. Smith has made 25 saves so far. Cam Ward has been hung out to dry quite a bit during this game, but the fourth goal is on him. Ward has made 24 saves through two periods.