• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Purcell nets hat trick, Stamkos gets 60 as Bolts down Jets in OT

Apr 8, 2012 - 5:57 AM Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) - Teddy Purcell netted a hat trick, and his final goal of the contest came 68 seconds into overtime to give Tampa Bay a 4-3 victory over Winnipeg in the season finale for both teams at MTS Centre.

Steven Stamkos provided the other goal -- his 60th of the season -- for the Lightning (38-36-8), who won three of five to end the year.

Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves for the victory.

Stamkos became the first player to score 60 goals since Washington's Alex Ovechkin tallied 65 times in 2007-08. He also became the 20th man in NHL history to score at least 60 in one season.

"He just wants more all the time. It's never enough. It's not the goals, he just never has enough of getting better and that's why he score the goals," said Lightning coach Guy Boucher.

"It's a by-product of his attitude, his work ethos and his willingness to pay the price. It's not just about skill. I would say that skill in his case is not the biggest portion as to why he scores those goals, it's just desire."

Jim Slater tallied twice for the Jets (37-36-9), who dropped six of eight to finish off their first season in Canada after relocating from Atlanta. Ondrej Pavelec allowed four goals on 25 shots in defeat.

Winnipeg coach Claude Noel congratulated Stamkos on his milestone.

"He's a very good player," the coach said. "I'm very impressed with him and I'm very impressed with the way our fans were respectful of him."

The winner was set up by Victor Hedman, who kept the puck in the Winnipeg zone and carried up the right wing before dishing to Purcell, whose rising wrister from the inner edge of the right circle sailed over Pavelec's glove.

It was Purcell's second career trifecta, after he scored three in an 8-3 decision over Phoenix on February 23, 2011.

Purcell netted the lone goal of the first period, ripping a one-timer off a Vinny Lecavalier right-circle faceoff win with 2:11 remaining.

He struck again just 72 seconds into the middle period on a shot from the left side, but Nik Antropov put the hosts on the board at 8:53.

The 22-year-old center hit the milestone roughly 3 1/2 minutes into the third period and drew a standing ovation from the home crowd. Martin St. Louis once again set up the youngster, sending a pass from the right side along the goal line into the slot.

Slater, though, drew the Jets within 3-2 only 90 seconds later, then tied the game inside a minute left in regulation.

Game Notes

Winnipeg tied their season low for shots in one period with three in the first, with the last time January 19 against Buffalo...The clubs split six games in the season series...Lecavalier ended with a pair of assists...Slater posted his second multi-goal effort of the campaign.