Bishop blanks Hurricanes 3-0 in Lightning win
The Tampa Bay Lightning had a very good October. November is now off to a good start, too.
Victor Hedman scored a fortunate goal, and Ben Bishop did the rest with a 31-save effort in the Lightning's 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night.
Hedman fired a drive that ricocheted off the end boards and the left post before hitting goalie Justin Peters twice and drifting across the line to make it 1-0 at 9:54 of the second,
''We were trying to get more pucks to the net, and that's a way of doing it,'' Hedman said with a laugh. ''That's not the result every time, obviously, when you do that. But we'll take it. To get that first goal was big, and it sparked us.
''I was just trying to hit it hard on the boards and get a bounce. Luckily (Peters) was down on his knees and it hit his pad and the post. It was a lucky bounce. That hasn't happened before.''
Steven Stamkos added an insurance goal to back Bishop as the Lightning improved to 9-4.
Bishop (8-2) earned his first shutout of the season and second of his career against Carolina. Alex Killorn added a goal and an assist, and Martin St. Louis had two assists.
''We had a long, heartfelt talk between the first and second periods about getting the puck on net,'' Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. ''You have to give Carolina credit. They were blocking some shots (four) in the first.
''(The first goal) was a shot attempt, and getting our `D' involved. That one was kind of funny, really.''
Tampa Bay has won eight of nine at Carolina.
Carolina, which lost its fourth straight, fell to 1-3-3 at home. Peters (0-4) made 29 saves.
Manny Malhotra made his Hurricanes debut, playing in his 865th NHL game with his sixth team. Carolina took the ice for the first time since forwards Jeff Skinner and Radek Dvorak were placed on the injured list.
''No one is going to feel sorry for us,'' said Carolina coach Kirk Muller, whose team is 4-6-3. ''We just have to man up. I thought our goalie was good, but he didn't win the game.''
Carolina held a 5-3 shots advantage in the scoreless first period, but Tampa Bay held a 16-12 edge in the second.
Nate Thompson and B.J. Crombeen had the assists on Hedman's quirky goal.
Stamkos put the Lightning up 2-0 at 11:38 of the third, flipping the rebound of Killorn's shot past Peters stick side.
''Tonight was fun,'' Stamkos said. ''I was joking with the guys on the bench, laughing. When you get so many chances, you're doing something right.
''Our whole team responded well after the first period. You just keep at it and you get rewarded. It was obviously nice to see one go in.''
Killorn netted the final goal with 2:46 left.
NOTES: The former Southeast Division rivals will play on Dec. 21 at Tampa Bay and back in Raleigh on Jan. 19. ... Carolina will visit the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Tampa Bay will host St. Louis. ... Stamkos played in his 340th straight game. ... Hurricanes RW Kevin Westgarth was scratched with an upper-body injury. ... Lightning RW Brett Connolly, recalled from Syracuse (AHL), played in his second NHL game of the season.
