Lightning 4, Oilers 2
TAMPA, Fla. - Goalie Ben Bishop had 38 saves to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
With the victory, Tampa Bay (11-4) continues its franchise-record pace as we near the end of the first quarter of the season.
Center Steven Stamkos scored two first-period goals when the Edmonton defense failed to clear the puck out of its zone. On the first goal, Stamkos intercepted a clearing attempt at the blue line and sent a shot over the shoulder of goalie Devan Dubnyk to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead.
Later in the first period, Dubnyk failed to get a stick on a loose puck and Stamkos executed a perfect wrap around, sending the puck between Dubnyk's pads.
The Lightning would increase their lead to 3-1 in the second period when center Tyler Johnson finished off a nice pass from winger Richard Panik.
The Oilers would get goals from defenseman Taylor Fedun and forward Taylor Hall. Hall had several other scoring opportunities including breakways in the first and second period but was turned away by Bishop on both attempts.
Hall's goal came midway through the third period after center Jordan Eberle took a loose puck and set up Hall in the slot with an open look. Hall blasted a wrist shot past Bishop's stick side to the net to push the Oilers within one at 3-2.
Bishop' s biggest save came with three minutes remaining in the fourth as he went full sprawl to deflect center Boyd Gordon's one timer with his stick. From there the Oilers removed Bundyk for an extra skater but once again failed to clear their zone and center Valtteri Filppula scored the empty net goal to give the Lightning a decisive 4-2 advantage.
Eberle had two assists for the Oilers while defenseman Radko Gudas had the second assist on Johnson's goal. Dubnyk had 22 saves.
NOTES: Oilers RW Nail Yakupov, who has been the topic of recent trade rumors, was in the lineup Thursday after coach Dallas Eakins said there are no plans to trade him. "(Nail) is not being shopped, he's not going anywhere and I wanted him to hear that from me," said Eakins to the Edmonton Journal. ... Lightning G Ben Bishop recorded his first career shutout against the Oilers on Feb. 25, 2011. ... The Oilers recalled LW Linus Omark from Oklahoma City and placed him in the starting lineup. Omark had eight goals and four assists with the AHL team. ... With two goals in the first period, Lightning C Steven Stamkos has scored goals in five straight games.
