Oct 18, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos (91) on a break away before scoring against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Eddie Lack (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Stamkos scored twice and Ben Bishop made 30 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning won the first game of their five-game road trip 4-2 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Ryan Callahan had the game-winner with 3:12 left in the second period as his one-timer on a 5-on-3 power play hit the post and went in after he received a nice cross-ice feed from Stamkos.
The Bolts (3-1-1) captain had opened the scoring just 53 seconds into the game as he took a Ondrej Palat feed and skated in on a breakaway before deking past Canucks (3-1-0) goaltender Eddie Lack and finishing with a backhander.
The Canucks tied the game at 7:15 when Chris Higgins deposited his own rebound into the back of the net but Stamkos would give the Lightning the lead again 71 seconds later when he put in Callahan’s feed from behind the net after a good forecheck.
Alex Edler tied the game again 2:42 into the second period on the power play with a wrist shot from the slot after a swift Vancouver rush.
Alex Killorn added a big insurance goal for the Lightning in the third period after Lack couldn’t corral Tyler Johnson’s shot and Killorn tucked in the loose puck.
Bishop made a number of big saves for the Lightning, and got a little help from his goalposts, but defiantly shut down the Canucks’ scorers.
Despite Callahan’s goal, Tampa Bay were dismal on the power play as they went 1-for-6 while struggling to set things up. They gave Vancouver six chances with the man advantage and gave up just one goal, although many of the team’s penalties were careless mistakes, something that will need to be fixed.
Victor Hedman left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. He will reportedly miss the rest of the road trip as he will return to Tampa to be evaluated.
Tampa Bay are 5-0-1 in their last six games against Vancouver.
The Lightning are back in action Monday when they face the Edmonton Oilers.