Lightning 5, Hurricanes 0
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Goalie Ben Bishop's debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning was an overwhelming success in Thursday night's 5-0 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.
Bishop, a day after he was acquired in a trade from the Ottawa Senators, recorded his third career shutout and second of the season by making 45 saves, including 17 in the third period.
Teddy Purcell, Tom Pyatt, Keith Aulie, Martin St. Louis and Benoit Pouliot scored for the Lightning, which are 3-0-1 in its last four games. Tampa Bay snapped a three-game road losing streak, moving into a tie with the Hurricanes for third place in the Southeast Division.
Carolina has lost 10 of its last 11 games, tumbling out of first placed in the process.
Matthew Carle and St. Louis chipped in with two assists each.
Bishop, 26, has a 9-5-0 record this season. He joined the Lightning in a trade that sent Cory Conacher to Ottawa.
Purcell knocked in a rebound 27 seconds into the second period to begin the scoring.
After the Hurricanes failed to convert on an extended power playing, including 37 seconds worth of 5-on-3, the Lightning went to work again.
Tampa Bay had a chance for a larger lead when, but Tyler Johnson's redirect attempt hit the crossbar. The margin grew soon anyway.
A few minutes later, Pyatt's redirect from Alex Killorn's delivery was on target as the Lightning built a 2-0 lead with 4:05 to play in the second period.
Aulie's goal, a slap shot from outside the left circle, made it 3-0 with 42 seconds left in the second period. St. Louis picked up one of the assists on that goal for his first point of the game.
St. Louis, who is second in the league with 36 assists, began the night as one of three players in the NHL who hadn't gone consecutive games without a point this season. Pittsburgh teammates Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin are the others.
Carolina has lost its last six home games.
NOTES: Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier was back after a nine-game absence with a lower-body injury. He had a shot hit the post in the opening six minutes. ... Defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron played for Carolina two days after he was traded by Tampa Bay. ... The Hurricanes played their first game since sending left wing Jussi Jokinen to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade-deadline deal in return for a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick in June. ... Defenseman Joni Pitkanen will miss the rest of Carolina's season with a broken heel sustained Tuesday night against Washington. He played in 22 games this season with one goal and eight assists. ... Right wing Tuomo Ruutu was back in the lineup for the Hurricanes after a two-game absence with a lower-body injury. ... Tampa Bay center Nate Thompson sat out the second and final game of a two-game suspension. ... The Hurricanes had a first-period goal wiped out when Alexander Semin kicked the puck into the net. .. This was the start to a three-game road trip for Tampa Bay, with the next stop Saturday at the New York Islanders. .. Carolina finishes a three-game homestand Saturday night against the New York Rangers.
