Stamkos scores as Lightning defeat Blueshirts

September 24, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Steven Stamkos was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning for a reason. The talented 2008 No.1 pick scored a goal in his team’s 3-2 preseason win over the Rangers in St. Pete Tuesday night.

With his team leading by a goal in the second period, he took a Radim Vrbata cross ice feed on the left wing and wired a perfect wrist shot top shelf shortside past a surprised Miikka Wiikkman for a power play goal at 7:01 making it 2-0. There wasn’t much room but it didn’t matter because that’s how great a finish it was from the very skilled rookie donning No.91. Ex-Pen Ryan Malone also notched an assist.

The Lightning power play struck again less than three minutes later when Martin St. Louis finished off a beautiful passing play started by Jussi Jokinen taking a perfect Matt Carle pass and burying a one-timer from the slot past Wiikkman at the halfway mark. Their second PPG made rookie Dane Byers pay for an extra rough during a scrap with ex-Pen Adam Hall.

Just how potent will Tampa’s man-advantage under new coach Barry Melrose look once team captain Vincent Lecavalier returns from offseason shoulder surgery? They certainly boast plenty of talent making it a scary proposition for opponents who wind up shorthanded.

The Rangers’ play picked up after that third goal as they started attacking much better. During one shift, they had Tampa pinned in for at least two minutes with the top line of Zherdev-Gomez-Naslund was buzzing. Despite a decided edge in SOG (40-18), they couldn’t beat Tampa No.1 Mike Smith, who was extremely sharp coming up with some strong stops going all 60 for 38 saves.

After taking an undisciplined goalie interference penalty, Swedish antagonist Andreas Jamtin came out of the box and drew a power play. On it, the Rangers finally found a way to beat Smith when Dan Girardi’s seeing eye wrister went through traffic past the netminder cutting it to 3-1 with 24 seconds left in the second. Scott Gomez and Wade Redden netted assists.

Fredrik Sjostrom scored a late third period PPG with under three minutes to go making it 3-2 but that was as close as they got. Pierre Parenteau and Lauri Korpikoski assisted.

Notes: Wiikkman let in three goals on 14 shots in 30 minutes before backup Stephen Valiquette relieved stopping all four shots in 28-plus before being pulled for an extra attacker. … Sjostrom finished with a game high eight shots while Redden registered seven. … Stamkos played 15 shifts (14:46 TOI) scoring a goal on his only shot finishing with three hits and winning six-of-nine draws. … Both Michael Del Zotto (15:13) and Bobby Sanguinetti (18:01) played as did Corey Potter (14:22) with the latter once again steady. In fact, all three looked fine with Del Zotto really skating well jumping into the rush and playing solid overall. … In his first appearance, former 2003 first rounder Hugh Jessiman played 6:42 getting a couple of SOG including one excellent chance in front which Smith denied.

Islanders Edge Bruins In OT: The Islanders and Bruins played a preseason game last night in New Brunswick, NJ which the designated home club took 2-1 thanks to rookie Trevor Smith’s goal in overtime. He skated past Bruin defenders before going to the backhand beating Tuukka Rask for the winner.

The Isles trailed by a goal when Boston defender Dennis Wideman beat backup Joey MacDonald with a wrist shot from the point. But they came right back when Jon Sim scored on the power play bouncing one in off a skate from an angle. The ex-Thrasher who the team signed last year missed all but two games due to injury.

New York outshot Boston 38-19.

Hudson Rivals Battle Tonight: The Rangers and Devils will get together for the first time this Fall with an exhibition game at The Rock with faceoff set for 7 PM. It’s their first meeting since the Original Six club avenged a 2006 first round sweep ousting New Jersey in five before falling to the Pens in the same amount during the Eastern Conference Semis.

The Devils brought back Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston bolstering their center corps. Figure Martin Brodeur to see some action tonight after not taking part in their exhibition defeat at Philly Monday.

I won’t be around to see it as I’m headed to the Garden to see Weezer.