Lightning 2 - 4 Senators
Final
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Struggling Lightning begin road trip in Ottawa

Dec 5, 2011 - 3:45 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will begin a four-game road trip tonight on a sour note, as they try to halt a three-game slide against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.

Tampa Bay will also visit the Islanders, Rangers and Flyers, and is 4-8-2 away from St. Pete Times Forum this season. The aforementioned venue is where the Lightning suffered their latest loss, a 4-2 setback versus the Rangers Saturday night. New York dented the net three times in the third period to seal the win and Lightning goaltender Mathieu Garon made 31 saves.

Steve Downie and Tom Pyatt both scored for the Lightning, who have lost three in a row and seven of their last 10 games. The three-game slide is the club's first since Oct. 14-17.

"It was a question of urgency, reliability and sticking with the plan," Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher told the club's website. "Tonight it wasn't there, and there's no excuse for that."

The Lightning were 7-0-0 when leading after two periods this season. Center Steven Stamkos had an assist, giving him eight points over six games.

Ottawa just went 1-1-1 on a three-game road trip and has dropped two straight and four of six games since a three-game winning streak.

In a 3-2 overtime loss at Washington on Saturday, Brooks Laich beat Senators goaltender Craig Anderson 12 seconds into overtime to lead the Capitals. Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek both scored for the Senators, who sent the game into an extra period on Michalek's tally late in the third period.

"We battled back to get the point," said Anderson. "It's frustrating to lose but you have to take the positive out of it."

The Senators will also play Washington again on their brief homestand and are 6-4-1 at Scotiabank Place this season. On the injury front for the Sens, forward Nikita Filatov (nose) and defenseman Filip Kuba (upper body) are both listed as questionable for this evening's tilt. Right wing Chris Neil (sprained ankle) returned to action Saturday after missing nine games.

Tampa Bay and Ottawa are playing the first of four meetings this season and split four matchups a year ago. The Senators have won seven of the previous 11 meetings with the Lightning, who have lost 11 of 14 and 21 of the previous 25 encounters in Ontario.






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