The Tampa Bay Lightning dug themselves a deep hole early against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins and could not dig out as Pittsburgh beats Tampa Bay 5-3 in a Sunday night matinee.  Crosby with two goals, both in the first period, and an assist led the Pens to their fifth win in six games and a tie with Montreal for the lead in the Eastern Conference. 

It was a rough night for Lightning goaltender Anders Lindback.  Lindback getting the nod a night after Mathieu Garon’s 32 save night in a 5-2 win over Carolina, only faced ten shots on goal in the first period but allowed three goals. 

Sidney Crosby wasted no time in prime time to get his Pens on the board a little over a minute into the game.  Pittsburgh jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead over the Bolts, who are now 2-6-1 when the opposing team scores first in a game.  Crosby lit the lamp again at the seven minute mark of the first period as Lindback lost the puck in a scrum only to kick the puck in his own net.  Pittsburgh’s 2-0 lead turned to 3-0 eight minutes later as Paul Martin notched his third goal of the season for the Pens. 

Lindback’s night was done after the first period as he was replaced by Garon, who finished the game with 10 saves on 11 shots.

The Bolts struck back and quick as the second period got underway.  Eric Brewer got the Lightning on the board with his fourth goal of the season a little under two minutes into the period.  Steven Stamkos who assisted on Brewer’s goal would then add a goal of his own on the power play less than two minutes later.  The Lightning found themselves down 3-2 after a fast start to the second.

The Penguins then struck back mid way through the second as Beau Bennett notched his first career NHL goal against the Lightning on the power play.  Bennett’s goal ended the scoring in the second period as the Lightning were outshooting the Penguins but not leading the contest. 

The Bolts young star Cory Conacher opened the third period with his seventh goal of the season to get the Lightning back within one.  However Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins would shut the door on the Lightning following Conacher’s tally.  Fleury finishing the game with 27 saves on 30 Lightning shots. 

Stamkos led the Bolts with a goal and two assists.  The Lightning return home Tuesday night to host the Buffalo Sabres.  You can hear the game on 970am WFLA beginning at 7:00pm.