Game Recap: TB 2 - MIN 3

(AP)

Michel Ouellet and Jeff Halpern scored for the Lightning, who are last in the Eastern Conference and have lost five straight.

Mike Smith, who made his Lightning debut after being obtained from Dallas on Tuesday, stopped Marian Gaborik on a short-handed breakaway moments after Minnesota took its two-goal lead. He also kept Gaborik from scoring later in the period on another breakaway attempt.

“Probably one of the harder games I’ve ever played mentally,” said Smith, who made 24 saves. “Everything that has gone on the last couple days. Fighting the nerves a little bit. For the most part, it felt pretty good. Disappointed in the outcome.”

Ouellet pulled the Lightning within 2-1 during a power play with 7:38 left in the second. Backstrom made an in-close save on Andre Roy to preserve the one-goal advantage four minutes later.

Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella was pleased with the play of the newcomers— but not so much with the holdovers.

“I have no problems with the guys that were traded for,” Tortorella said. “How many breakaways did our top two defensemen give up?”

After that, Tortorella ended a brief postgame news conference.

The Newbie Numbers:

Halpern: 1G, 1A, +1, 4 SOG
Jokinen: 0G, 0A, -1, 4 SOG
Picard: 0G, 0A, 0, 1 SOG
Smith: 30 Saves on 33 shots

Overall grade: B+

Game Highlights:

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