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Stamkos breaks record, but Tampa OT win is bittersweet

Apr 1, 2012 - 7:17 AM Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Steven Stamkos' record-setting goal 45 seconds into overtime lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Winnipeg Jets, 3-2, at Tampa Bay Times Forum.

The tally was the fifth overtime goal of the season for Stamkos, breaking the previous record held by Patrik Elias (2003-04), Olli Jokinen (2005-06), Ilya Kovalchuk (2010-11), Markus Naslund (2003-04), Scott Niedermayer (2001-02), Daniel Sedin (2006-07) and Mats Sundin (1999-00).

However, the win means little now for the Lightning as they, along with Winnipeg, were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday after Washington defeated Montreal in a shootout.

Ryan Malone scored twice in regulation while Sebastien Caron stopped 26-of-28 shots for the Lightning, who snapped a two-game slide.

"You have got to be amazed by our players coming out with that much enthusiasm and drive," Lightning head coach Guy Boucher said. "I think we gave the best show possible to our fans in every possible way."

Antti Miettinen and Kyle Wellwood lit the lamp for Winnipeg, which lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Ondrej Pavelec made 36 saves in a losing effort.

Tampa Bay entered the third period trailing 2-1 and took advantage of three consecutive penalties on Winnipeg to knot the game at two. After failing to convert on a pair of brief two-man advantages, the Lightning netted the equalizer when Teddy Purcell's shot from the left circle was stopped by Pavelec, but Malone was there to clean up the rebound at the 7:25 mark.

Neither team would be able to score again in regulation, but on Tampa Bay's first offensive possession in overtime, Brian Lee sent a cross-ice pass to Stamkos in the left circle and he ripped a one-timer into the open net for the game-deciding goal.

"The effort was good, but you can't keep taking penalties," Jets head coach Claude Noel said. "They built all their third period momentum off the power play."

The Lightning scored the lone goal of the first period after Malone grabbed the puck near his own blue line and flipped it over the head of Jets defenseman Grant Clitsome. Malone then raced around Clitsome and grabbed his own pass for a breakaway, beating Pavelec with a wrister to the stick side with 4:23 left in the opening frame.

But Winnipeg tied the game 6:20 into the second period when Evander Kane grabbed the puck behind the Tampa Bay net and fed a pass to Miettinen in the slot, where he lifted a quick wrister into the top-right corner.

The Jets then took the lead at the 9:28 mark of the middle stanza with Wellwood's tally on a rebound attempt off a Dustin Byfuglien slap shot from the right point.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay went 1-for-8 on the power play...Winnipeg went 0-for-3 on the man advantage...Stamkos' goal was his league-leading 56th of the year.