Mike Smith News

The Tampa Bay Lightning began the NHL season with Mike Smith as their No. 1 goaltender, but Antero Niittymaki is making a serious bid for the job.

Teams such as the Montreal Canadiens seem to thrive when a game lasts past regulation.

The only better outcome for the Bolts would have been if they could have won it in the shootout, which would have eliminated all three albatrosses at once.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Ryan Craig from their AHL affiliate in Norfolk.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to win consecutive games for the first time in over three weeks when they visit the struggling Ottawa Senators tonight for a test at Scotiabank Place.

New player, new confidence, same old result. Phil Kessel made his much heralded return to NHL hockey - " his first game in a Maple Leaf uniform.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could see their biggest offseason addition on the ice for the first time this season tonight when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for a battle at Air Canada Centre.

The Lightning have turned into road worriers. Tampa Bay's 6-2 to loss to the Flyers on Monday marked the 11th consecutive road game in which the Lightning failed to pick up a victory, a stretch that dates back to March 14 of last season.

The Flyers have won three of their past four at home. Lightning G Mike Smith, who starts tonight, is 3-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average in six starts against the Flyers.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the one club that arguably came closest to handing the New Jersey Devils their first road loss of the season.

It has often been said that revenge is a dish best served cold. And the Tampa Bay Lightning were undoubtedly hoping for a little payback Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators.

Steven Stamkos is fast becoming an elite NHL player. Stamkos had two power-play goals and an assist to help the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Ottawa Senators 5-2 on Thursday night.

The Ottawa Senators will try for back-to-back wins tonight when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning for a clash at St.

Given that one out of 7.6 NHL games has been decided by shootouts since the tiebreaker was instituted in 2005-06, a team with playoff aspirations had better win some of them.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet addressed the team after this morning's skate and promised to allocate playing time tonight against San Jose according to effort.

The first five shooters for each team were unsuccessful in the shootout, sending it to a sixth round.

C Joe Pavelski , RW Torrey Mitchell , out. Lightning - D Matt Smaby , out. NEED TO KNOW: Tampa Bay is 13-11-2 all-time against the Sharks, but is 0-4-1 in the past five meetings.

Mike Smith won for the first time in nine months, and James Wright scored his first NHL goal to lead Tampa Bay, 5-2. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mike Smith makes a second-period save on a shot by San Jose Sharks' Ryan Clowe during an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct.

Mike Smith won for the first time in nine months, James Wright scored his first NHL goal and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Thursday night.

Through seven games the Lightning has yet to score first. "It's always nice to get the first goal," coach Rick Tocchet said.