• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Bolts aim to even series in Game 4 vs. Pens

Apr 20, 2011 - 3:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals tonight, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 at St. Pete Times Forum.

The clubs split the first two tests of this series in Pittsburgh, with the fourth-seeded Penguins taking the opener by a 3-0 score and the Bolts posting a 5-1 victory in Game 2.

Pittsburgh rebounded from its poor Game 2 performance to take a 2-1 series lead in the third meeting in Tampa. Tyler Kennedy scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period on Monday and the Penguins held on for a 3-2 win at the Forum.

Kennedy, picking up a loose puck in front of the net, scored at 2;43 of the third -- just 31 seconds after Martin St. Louis tied the game at 2-2 with his second power-play goal of the game for the Lightning.

It was the first goal of the series for Kennedy after he set a career best with 21 tallies during the regular season.

"Kennedy had some good chances tonight and again just going out steadying that shift with his play tonight," said Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma. "He also brings a threat winning the faceoffs, going to the net and adding an offensive punch when we needed it."

Maxime Talbot and Arron Asham scored first-period goals to give the Penguins an early lead, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves after giving up four goals on 20 shots in Pittsburgh's Game 2 setback on Friday.

"To get those quick goals early, those were big," said Fleury. "It helps to play with a lead coming into this building. It helped me settle down a bit."

Dwayne Roloson had 27 saves for the fifth-seeded Lightning, who were never able to take the lead after Pittsburgh's first-period burst.

"They're tough to beat. We also know they're 29th in the league on comebacks in the third period," said Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher. "Obviously the team that has the lead going into the third has some sort of an advantage, but as you saw, we came back. We came back from two goals."

The Penguins are 8-5 all-time in series where they hold a 2-1 lead and Pittsburgh has won five of its last six Game 4s.

However, Pittsburgh and the Lightning will each have a player miss tonight's test due to one-game suspensions stemming from incidents in Game 2.

Penguins forward Chris Kunitz was involved in a controversial hit on Tampa's Simon Gagne, as the former elbowed the Lightning forward in the head in the first period. Kunitz was given a two minute penalty for interference on the play. Gagne, who has four assists in this series, was able to finish the game and is expected to play tonight.

Lightning forward Steve Downie, meanwhile, was also give a one-game ban for leaving his feet to hit Pittsburgh's Ben Lovejoy behind the Penguins net in the first period. Downie was called for a delayed penalty, but Pittsburgh scored before the play was whistled dead.

The Lightning have a trio of defensemen battling injuries, as Marc-Andre Bergeron (undisclosed), Randy Jones (left ankle) and Matt Smaby (lower body) are all questionable for tonight's game. Tampa forward Ryan Malone is probable with an upper body injury.

Of course, Pittsburgh is still playing without captain Sidney Crosby due to a concussion. Crosby continues to practice with the team, but he has not been cleared for contact and will miss tonight's game.

Tampa had a solid 25-11-5 record as the host this year, while Pittsburgh was 24-11-6 as the visiting team. The series will head back to the Steel City for Game 5.

Pittsburgh and the Bolts split four meetings during the regular season and this playoff series marks the first-ever postseason matchup between these clubs.