Sens can’t bottle Lightning
 

Sens can’t bottle Lightning

 

Malone strikes twice late in Tampa’s comeback win

 
 
 
 
Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by teammate Matt Carle #25 during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
 
 

Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by teammate Matt Carle #25 during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.

Photograph by: Scott Audette, NHLI via Getty Images

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TAMPA, Fla. • With Ben Bishop in net, the bubble burst for the Ottawa Senators Friday.

The Senators couldn’t hold on to a pair of two-goal leads, ultimately losing 6-4 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and putting an end to their early-season winning streak.

Ryan Malone finished off the Senators, scoring both the tying and winning goals in the third period. Tom Pyatt scored into an empty net.

The Senators arrived in Tampa with a perfect 3-0 record, a stretch in which No. 1 goaltender Craig Anderson had allowed only two goals.

Friday’s game was a different experience altogether.

It may have been a goaltending Clash of the Titans — the Senators’ 6-foot-7 Bishop against the Lightning’s 6-foot-6 Anders Lindback in a matchup of the tallest netminders in NHL history — but saves took a back seat to goals in a wild second period.

After Erik Condra scored on a breakaway to tie the game 1-1 early in the second period, the game appeared to be setting up for a tight-checking finish. Guess again.

First, Jason Spezza scored on a 4-on-3 power play. Then Erik Karlsson scored from the blueline on a shot that tipped off the stick of Tampa defenceman Victor Hedman. Only 30 seconds after Spezza’s goal, Steven Stamkos cashed in on a rebound in front of Bishop.

Kyle Turris restored the Senators’ two-goal lead — his fourth goal of the season — on a pretty passing play involving Kaspars Daugavins and Daniel Alfredsson, but that margin didn’t last long. Hedman completed the second period scoring, blasting a slapshot through a screen and past Bishop. When the buzzer finally sounded at the end of the second period, the Senators were ahead 4-3.

The Senators deserve credit for working their way back into a game where they started slowly. They fell behind only 1:09 into the game on a Lightning power play.

Bishop, playing his first game of the season, had a rough start. He couldn’t find the puck in the crease, allowing the Lightning to whack away until Matt Carle lifted the puck into the net.

It took a while for the Senators, who defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Thursday, to find their legs. They didn’t help themselves by taking four minor penalties in the first period. Yet they started the second period with some jump and began taking the play to the Lightning. Condra tied the game 1-1, sneaking behind the defence and taking a pass from Chris Neil.

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Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by teammate Matt Carle #25 during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
 

Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by teammate Matt Carle #25 during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.

Photograph by: Scott Audette, NHLI via Getty Images

 
Benoit Pouliot #67 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal by teammate Matt Carle #25 during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles for the puck against Daniel Alfredsson #11 and Chris Phillips #4 of the Ottawa Senators during the first period at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Anders Lindback #39 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a glove save during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning receives a silver stick during his 1,000th NHL game ceremony from Tampa Bay Lightning VP & General Manager, Steve Yzerman, prior to tonights game against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar (55), of Russia, controls the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Ottawa Senators right wing Chris Neil, right, fights with Tampa Bay Lightning right wing B.J. Crombeen during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Carle (25) celebrates with left wing Benoit Pouliot (67) and defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron (47) after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Anders Lindback (39), of Sweden, stops a shot by Ottawa Senators center Peter Regin (13), of Denmark, who got past Lightning defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, of Sweden, reacts after his goal against the Ottawa Senators during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Chris Phillips (4) bats the puck away from Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, in Tampa, Fla.
Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators battles against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Anders Lindback #39 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops the puck before it crosses the goal line during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Cory Conacher #89 of the Tampa Bay Lightning battles in front of the net against Mark Borowiecki #74 of the Ottawa Senators during the first period at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Anders Lindback #39 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is screened by Colin Greening #14 of the Ottawa Senators as the puck goes into the net during the second period at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
Anders Lindback #39 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes a save against Milan Michalek #9 of the Ottawa Senators during the second period at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on January 25, 2013 in Tampa, Florida.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Scoreboard

5/18/2013 5:18:13 AM
 
Final123otscore
 
Pittsburgh
220-4
Ottawa
111-3
 
 
 

 
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