New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - The
Tampa Bay Lightning try to remain one of two unbeaten clubs in the National Hockey League tonight when they visit the
New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Tampa Bay, at 3-0-1, shares the spotlight with Philadelphia in the ranks of the undefeated.
After winning their first three games of the young season -- against Florida, Carolina and Atlanta -- the Bolts skated to a 3-3 tie in Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Tampa Bay battled back from three separate deficits -- two in the third period -- and knotted the game for good by virtue of Dan Boyle's power-play goal with 10:55 remaining in regulation. Ben Clymer and Martin St. Louis also scored, while Nikolai Khabibulin turned aside 26 shots between the pipes.
The Lightning, off to their best start in the franchise's miserable history, might be forced to play without center Vincent Lecavalier tonight after he suffered a knee sprain in Saturday's match. Lecavalier, tied with Vaclav Prospal for the club lead with seven points (3g, 4a), sprained the MCL in his right knee and is expected to miss tonight's game.
There are some "negatives" to speak of regarding the Lightning's season- opening run. The team has fallen behind in three of the four games -- twice by two scores.
This evening's tilt is the second installment of a three-game road trip. The Lightning visit Columbus on Wednesday and play seven of their next nine games, including tonight, away from home.
New York, meanwhile, is 1-0-2 in its last three games, including consecutive ties against Buffalo and Nashville. On Saturday night the Rangers skated to a 2-2 home deadlock with the Predators, receiving goals from Pavel Bure and Dale Purinton. Purinton provided a 2-1 lead early in the second, but the Preds' Scottie Upshall tied things for good with 5:39 left in the stanza.
Bure's tally was his fourth in three games since returning from the knee injury/strep throat that postponed the start of his season. The Russian Rocket, who has two assists in that time as well, has now contributed 16 goals and 10 assists in 15 games as a Ranger after being obtained from Florida last March.
Goaltender Mike Richter made 24 saves on Saturday and remains close to a significant career milestone. He is just two shy of becoming the 19th netminder in NHL history to reach the 300-win plateau. Richter ranks sixth among active goalies with 298 victories.
Saturday's game marked the opener of a four-game homestand for New York. The set continues Wednesday against Washington and finishes up two nights later against Los Angeles.
The Rangers and Lightning spilt four games last season, but New York has won five of the last seven meetings overall. The Bolts are 2-5-1 in their last eight trips to the Garden.
