Unexpected goals from Sestito lift Flyers past Lightning

PHILADELPHIA -- Tom Sestito kept his gloves on and used his hands for more than just throwing punches.

Sestito scored his first two goals for Philadelphia, Ilya Bryzgalov made 21 saves and the Flyers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Benoit Pouliot had the Lightning's only goal.

Sestito, known more for his feistiness, showed off his scoring skills. He hadn't scored a goal since Dec. 23, 2010 when he played for Columbus. Sestito has four goals in 32 career games.

"It's great to contribute like that, to not just fight all the time," he said. "It's being with great linemates."

Sestito used the same forehand-to-backhand move for his second goal, giving the Flyers a 2-1 lead less than two minutes after Tampa tied it.

"I've got one (move)," he said. "Hopefully no goalies catch on to that. If it works once, then I'm going to keep doing it until it stops working."

Tampa Bay had dominated Philadelphia, going 7-1-1 in the previous nine meetings.

It was the second straight win for the Flyers (4-6). The Lightning have lost two in a row after opening 6-1.

"We didn't have enough fresh legs to go on the offense," Tampa Martin St. Louis said. "That's pretty much what happened. But we fought back and Bryzgalov made some keys saves at key times. We just didn't get it done."

Bryzgalov shut down Steven Stamkos, St. Louis and the high-flying Lightning, who came in averaging a league-best 4.9 goals per game.

Bryzgalov survived a crash after making a save on Cory Conacher's breakaway shot in the third period. Conacher fell into Bryzgalov, sending the goalie sprawling backward to the ice. Bryzgalov got up after a moment and fans chanted "Bryz! Bryz! Bryz!" in appreciation.

A few minutes later, though, the Lightning tied it at 1-1 on Pouliot's goal. Teddy Purcell fed him a pass from behind the net. Pouliot, standing alone in front of Bryzgalov, lifted it into the top left corner.

Former Lightning forward Ruslan Fedotenko set up the game-winner with a centering pass to Sestito, who was streaking down the middle.

Right after the face-off, Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier took on Max Talbot. Lecavalier landed solid punches, but went to the penalty box with a bloody nose.

"I mean you can't expect to score five goals every night, you have to expect these tight games," Lecavalier said.

Despite Philadelphia's poor start, Bryzgalov has been a bright spot. He entered with a 2.40 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Bryzgalov struggled last year in his first season with the Flyers. He had a tough time adjusting after signing a nine-year, $51 million contract.

"We played very well all-around," Bryzgalov said.

Sestito's first goal gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead early in the second period. Voracek set it up with a crisp pass across the ice to Sestito, who was skating down the left wing. Sestito made a nifty move going from his forehand to backhand and slipped the puck under goalie Anders Lindback's pads.

"It's great Tom chipped in like that," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said. "He's a big body that goes up and down the wing. He does a lot for our club and for him to get the two goals tonight it has make him feel good. Makes us feel good too."

Stamkos had the best chance to score the first goal late in the first period, but Bryzgalov made a save sliding across the crease to stop his shot and kept the game scoreless.

NOTES: Zac Rinaldo knocked Tampa's B.J. Crombeen out of the game after a first-period fight. Crombeen didn't return for precautionary reasons after taking a few hard shots to the head. ... Director Rob Zombie visited the Flyers before the game. He's working on a movie based on the Broad Street Bullies. ... Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds remains sidelined by head and neck injuries sustained last Friday night when Washington's John Erskine elbowed him in the face. GM Paul Holmgren said Simmonds is still day-to-day. ... The Lightning opened a four-game road trip. They'll have two others this season. ... Tampa entered the game with four of the top 13 scorers in the NHL. ... Lightning defenseman Matt Carle played his first game in Philadelphia since leaving the Flyers in free agency and was booed whenever he touched the puck early in the game.