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Boyle lifts Lightning over Leafs in OT

Sat 1st, March 2008

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Dan Boyle scored the game-winner on the power play with 2:58 left in overtime as the Tampa Bay Lightning survived a game in which they gave up a two-goal lead to top the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-2, at the St. Pete Times Forum.

With Pavel Kubina in the penalty box after being called for holding the stick, Boyle took a pass from Vincent Lecavalier and blasted a shot from the slot that was blocked by Ian White. But, the puck bounced directly onto Boyle's stick, and he unloaded a slap shot that blew past Toskala to put an end to Tampa Bay's five-game losing streak.

"It came back to me, and it was a quick play and I just tried to put it upstairs, and obviously I'm very thankful it went in," Boyle said.

Boyle also added a pair of assists, while Michel Ouellet and Alexandre Picard each posted goals for the Lightning. Lecavalier contributed a pair of helpers, and Mike Smith made 23 saves as the Lightning beat the Maple Leafs for just the second time in the last nine matchups.

Alex Steen and Jason Blake each scored their 12th goal of the year for the Leafs, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Vesa Toskala stopped 24- of-27 shots, but was saddled with the loss.

Ouellet opened the scoring for Tampa Bay with a power play tally 8:51 into the first period when he took a pass from Jeff Halpern and fired a wrister from the right circle over Toskala's left shoulder.

Tampa Bay's power play struck again midway through the second period to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead with 7:47 left in the stanza. Dan Boyle blasted a shot from the point that went wide and caromed off the rear boards, and Picard crashed the net and poked the loose puck past Toskala.

After managing just 10 shots on net through the first 40 minutes, Toronto finally began to put pressure on Smith in the third period.

Just 27 seconds into the stanza, Steen cut the deficit to 2-1 when he picked up a loose puck, made a wraparound move behind the net and roofed a backhander over the sprawling Smith.

"I kind of got caught out of position a little bit, got down early and had a battle to try and get it back, but they should never score from there," Smith said. "I've just got to stay patient."

The Leafs continued to relentlessly pepper Smith with shots, before Blake sprung loose on a breakaway, evaded Smith's pokecheck attempt and tipped the puck home to tie the game at 2-2 inside of nine minutes to play in regulation.

Lecavalier had Toskala beat on a breakaway with 4:35 to play, but his slap shot banged off the goalpost and bounced under Toskala, who was able to hold on to the puck.

"For a few minutes there (Toronto) turned it up, but we steadied ourselves, we got a couple saves and we ended up getting a power play in overtime," said Lightning coach John Tortorella. "That hasn't happened that often this year. Overtime hasn't been that good, but we found a way to win."

Game Notes

Tampa Bay finished 3-for-4 on the power play, while Toronto missed on both of its man advantage opportunities...The Lightning travel to Carolina Saturday, while Toronto finishes its four-game road trip Saturday against the Capitals...Lecavalier's two assists gave him 80 points for the season, good for third-most in the NHL...Tortorella recorded his 234th career win, tying Bob Johnson for the most all-time by an American-born coach.

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