Lightning 2 - 0 Blackhawks
Final
  for this game

Bolts, Blackhawks collide in Chicago

Apr 3, 2011 - 3:35 PM (Sports Network) - The postseason-bound Tampa Bay Lightning will aim for their fifth consecutive victory when they visit the playoff-hopeful Chicago Blackhawks tonight at United Center.

The Lightning have already clinched a playoff spot in the East, but the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are still fighting for a postseason spot in the Western Conference.

Chicago is holding onto the West's eighth and final playoff spot and is three points ahead of Calgary in the conference standings. Dallas is also five points behind the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks and Stars each have five games left in the regular season compared to three for the Flames. All three clubs are in action tonight, as Calgary visits Colorado and Dallas is on the road against Anaheim.

Tampa Bay is still alive in the race for the Southeast Division crown, although the Bolts enter today trailing Washington by six points for first place with just four games left. The Lightning have a game in hand to use over the Capitals tonight, but Washington will clinch the Southeast title if Tampa loses in regulation.

The Lightning, who are also three points behind Pittsburgh for the fourth seed in the East, won their fourth consecutive contest Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. Steve Downie scored the eventual game-winner midway through the second period to help lift Tampa Bay to the 3-1 decision at Xcel Energy Center.

Ryan Malone and Sean Bergenheim also lit the lamp for the Lightning, while former Minnesota goaltender Dwayne Roloson made 29 saves in the win for Tampa.

"It was a solid team effort," Tampa Bay forward Steven Stamkos said. "We didn't panic after they scored the first goal. We knew we were going to get some chances."

The Lightning, who are 19-13-6 as the guest this year, are playing the middle test of a three-game road trip tonight and will close the swing Tuesday in Buffalo.

The Blackhawks won for the fourth time in six games on Friday to help their playoff chances. Chicago rallied for a shootout victory in Columbus to rebound from Tuesday's shutout loss in Boston.

Viktor Stalberg scored the only goal of the shootout to help Chicago take a 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Stalberg was the final shooter and he was able to lift a backhand that trickled past Mathieu Garon for the win.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist while Brent Seabrook and Bryan Bickell each scored for the Blackhawks. Corey Crawford stopped 31 shots and all three in the shootout.

The Blue Jackets had taken a 3-2 edge on Samuel Pahlsson's goal with 6:38 left in regulation, but Bickell notched the equalizer just 1:35 later.

"I will take any win right now," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "When you are down late in the game it turns out to be a huge win for us."

The Blackhawks have won six of their last seven games on home ice and are 23-15-0 in the Windy City this season.

Tampa recorded a 4-3 shootout win over a visiting Blackhawks club on March 9, ending Chicago's three-game series' winning streak. The teams have split the last six encounters overall, but the Lightning have lost two in a row and seven of their last eight at United Center.






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