The Tampa Bay Lightning was hoping a couple days on the road would recharge the batteries and get the team through the last week of a never-ending home stand. If the first period of Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes was any the test, the Bolts passed with flying colors and then some.
“We kind of wanted to prove that we were not going to come out soft after that trip,” Lightning forward Steven Stamkos said. “I think it’s the best way to come out, 5-0 after the first, after that trip, so we are proud of that.”
The Lightning ambushed the Coyotes in the early going, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first period with two goals from Marty St. Louis and one each from Teddy Purcell, Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier to put the game away.
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2011.