TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kurtis Foster had two goals, Steven Stamkos added his team-high 16th and the Tampa Bay Lightning routed New York 5-1 on Friday night, spoiling Rangers coach John Tortorella’s first game against his former team.
Tampa Bay Lightning's Steve Downie (9) prepares to put the puck past New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, left, of Sweden, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tortorella, fired by Tampa Bay following the 2007-08 season, spent seven seasons with the Lightning, leading them to the 2004 Stanley Cup title.
Marty St. Louis had three assists, and Steve Downie and Paul Szczechura also scored for the Lightning. Mike Smith made 26 saves, allowing only Ryan Callahan’s late third-period goal.
Stamkos scored 6 minutes into the game, beating Henrik Lundqvist with a wrist shot off a pass from St. Louis. Rookie defenseman Victor Hedman also assisted on the goal.
The Lightning added two power-play goals against a Rangers team that has the top-ranked penalty-killing unit in the NHL.
Foster scored on a slap shot in the first period, and Downie added his third goal of the season 8 minutes into the second.
Szczechura scored his first goal on the season on a second-chance shot, after picking up the rebound from James Wright’s initial shot.
Lundqvist gave up four goals on 22 shots before giving way to backup Steve Valiquette with 7 minutes left in the second.
NOTES: Lightning D Matt Smaby was optioned to Norfolk for a conditioning assignment. … Lightning D Mattias Ohlund missed his second straight game because of a lower-body injury … Rangers D Wade Redden was scratched Friday with a shoulder injury.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
