Lightning top Hurricanes to halt losing streak
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat each scored their first NHL goals to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the visiting Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1.
Teddy Purcell and Nate Thompson supplied the other goals for the Lightning, who snapped a five-game losing streak at home with a third straight win over their Southeast Division rivals.
Tampa Bay goaltender Mathieu Garon made 21 saves. All three of his wins this season have come against the Hurricanes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"That's what we need for the rest of (the season). We have to play a full 60 minutes every night," said Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman.
Justin Peters allowed four goals on 26 shots for Carolina, which has dropped two games in a row.
Johnson, playing in his second NHL game, took Alex Killorn's pass off the boards and beat Peters high glove from the left circle for the game's first tally at the 10:54 mark of the opening frame.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tampa Bay extended its lead with two goals in the second period.
Sami Salo fired a low shot from the point that deflected in off Palat's skate at 6:35. Thompson then took a stretch pass from B.J. Crombeen, shielded the puck with his body while fighting off a hook and lifted a shot over Peters with 7:05 remaining.
Purcell whipped a backhander on a breakaway past Peters to make it 4-0 at 3:54 of the third.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Eric Staal finally solved Garon at 6:21.
"I thought we competed pretty hard. I think there's areas we can tighten up a little bit better, " Staal said.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Purcell, appearing in his 300th NHL contest, snapped a 13-game scoring drought ... Carolina defenseman Joni Pitkanen returned from a six-game absence due to a lower-body injury ... The Hurricanes claimed forward Adam Hall off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Hall played almost 10 minutes against his former club.