Hockey has always been a game of streaks. Left for dead a month ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning has climbed back into the race for the Stanley Cup with a streak of its own.
Thursday’s 3-2 shootout victory at New Jersey could very well be the biggest win of the season for Tampa Bay.The Lightning, winners in six of their last seven, moved into the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, three points behind No. 6 seed Carolina, where Tampa Bay will play Saturday, in its final game before the five-day All-Star break.
Even though center Brad Richards won’t get credit for a hat trick, he scored three times against Devil goalie Martin Brodeur on Thursday. He scored both goals in regulation and followed that up with the game’s lone shootout tally.
One interesting note:
According to the Tampa Bay Lightning web site, center Vincent Lecavalier and right winger Martin St. Louis both have accumulated 63 points on 29 goals and 34 assists. But the National Hockey League site puts St. Louis ahead 64 to 63 on one more assist.
