Boyes' goal in overtime lifts Blues past Lightning
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Brad Boyes scored just 27 seconds into overtime
and added two assists to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-3 victory over the
Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum.
In the overtime, Boyes accepted a feed from Carlo Colaiacovo at the left
point, took a stride towards the net and lasered a shot into the right corner
for the win.
Andy McDonald had a goal and three assists, David Backes added a goal and an
assist while Keith Tkachuk also lit the lamp for the Blues, who have won four
of their last five games. Chris Mason stopped 20 shots in the game.
The win gives St. Louis 66 points on the season and the team is in 12th place
in the tight Western Conference playoff chase.
Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos each had a goal and an assist for the
Lightning, who have dropped four of five and eight of 10 overall. Karri Ramo
was tagged for four goals on 36 shots.
After a scoreless first period, St. Louis drew first blood just 5:43 into the
second period on a 4-on-1 break with Boyes sending the disc from the right to
the left for the easy redirect by Tkachuk.
McDonald scored at the 9:25 mark of the second when he jammed in a loose puck
from the right side of the net while on the power play.
Just 3:28 into the third period while on the power play, Tampa got one back.
Vincent Lecavalier used some fancy footwork to get past the defense near the
left circle and backhanded the puck down low for a wide open St. Louis, who
backhanded the puck over the glove of Mason.
St. Louis got the goal back less than three minutes later on Backes' 19th goal
of the season.
However, the Lightning rallied to force overtime.
With under eight minutes to play, the Lightning made it a one-goal game as a
short 2-on-1 was capped when Jeff Halpern passed the puck from the right to
the left for Matt Pettinger, who leaned to the left and snapped a wrister over
Mason's right shoulder.
Tampa then tied the game with just 16.7 seconds to play. With Ramo on the
bench for the extra attacker, Stamkos blasted a one-timer from the left point
that got through a screen and forced overtime.
Game Notes
St. Louis plays in Florida on Saturday...Tampa hosts Carolina on
Saturday...Tampa had won the past two games against St. Louis...It was the
first time St. Louis played in Tampa since December 8, 2005. It was the Blues'
first win in Tampa since March 24, 2000...Boyes, who leads the team with 26
goals, snapped an eight-game goal drought...Each team scored once on the
power play with St. Louis having five chances and Tampa Bay three.
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