Game 74: New York Islanders versus Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-3 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum Saturday night.

There are times when an individual stands out and sets a standard to be emulated by others.

"He's pushing the pace. He's got nothing to prove and he's done everything but he's still pushing the envelope. The work ethic, the show and all of that and you go 'wow!. Man, that's what it's all about. That's professionalism. And that's what we want to do." - Lightning head coach Guy Boucher...on Bruce Springsteen who performed at the Forum Friday night.

In other news, Steven Stamkos scored goals number 51 and 52, tying Vincent Lecavalier's team record for goals scored in a season, in a win over the Islanders.

The Lightning got on the board first at the 15:49 mark of the first period when Stamkos scored on assists from Teddy Purcell and Martin St. Louis. The Lightning carried the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

At 1:46 of the second, Stamkos scored on a one-timer from St. Louis and Purcell.

After that goal, the Bolts got away from their game plan a bit.

"I really didn't like the second period. I wasn't happy at all with that. We were soft." - Boucher

At 8:15, the Islanders scored the first of three unanswered goals, this time on the power play from Frans Nielsen with helpers from Matt Moulson and John Tavares.

They tied the game at 19:25 with a goal from Kyle Okposo on assists from Josh Bailey and Nielsen.

At 0:43 of the third, Moulson scored on assists from Mark Streit and Andrew McDonald to give New York the lead.

But at 9:08, Tom Pyatt tied the game on a tip in from Ryan Malone and Brett Connolly.

"He was great again tonight. Another goal in the blue paint for him. That's how we have to drive the net." - Boucher

Three minutes later at 12:10, the Lightning regained the lead when Tim Wallace scoredthe eventual game-winner with helpers from Stamkos and Pierre-Cedric LaBrie.

With less than a minute to play, Stamkos lofted a shot toward the empty Islanders net that fluttered wide, missing his bid for the hat trick and keeping him tied with Lecavalier for the team's single season goals-scored record.

"It's nice. I don't think it means too much right now with where we are in the standings...but it's nice to get a couple and contribute offensively with Marty and Teddy and I tonight and hopefully we can finish strong." - Stamkos

This concludes the Lightning's seven-game homestand, their longest of the season. They're in action again on Monday, when they travel to Philadelphia to play the Flyers.

Game notes:

• The Lightning and islanders split their season series 2-2, with both teams winning their games at home.
• This was Dwayne Roloson's 600th NHL game.
• The Bolts improved their record in one-goal games to 23-3-7, best in the NHL
• This was Stamkos' eighth three-point game of the season.
• Teddy Purcell is one point away from becoming the fourth player in Lightning history to record 60 points in a season after being undrafted, joining Martin St. Louis, Dan Boyle and Dino Ciccarelli).
• This was the first game-winning goal in Tim Wallace's career.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning honored Ishan Mandani as a Lightning Community Hero during the first period of tonight’s game against the New York Islanders. Mandani, who received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, will donate the money to the Morton Plant Mease Foundation, the Our Aim Foundation, Inc. and the Suncoast Hospice. Mandani developed a passion for the elderly ever since the early age of nine years old. He would visit them at hospices after they recently got discharged from hospitals, bringing them books, CDs, blankets and other items from his own savings. He would listen to their stories and be energized by their smiles. Mandani’s compassion towards the sick and elderly grew with his age and he decided to initiate an intergenerational program called the Grand-Kids Program. The program was designed to help younger people deal with the common challenges that the elderly go through on a daily basis. His passion and conviction convinced organizations like Red Cross, Hospice, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, high schools and several assisted living centers to partner with his program and develop compassion training manuals. These manuals help youths experience the challenges of being a senior by maneuvering a wheelchair, walk with blurred vision and opening medicine bottles. Mandani has motivated and convinced more and more youths to experience the magic of intergenerational bonding.