Hogue, Lightning Snap Avs
Colorado almost lost a lot more than a game.
Benoit Hogue had two first-period goals Thursday night as the Tampa Bay Lightning snapped the Colorado Avalanche's franchise-best 10-game road unbeaten streak, 2-1.
Colorado center Peter Forsberg, who extended his point streak to nine games - seven goals, 15 points - with his 22nd goal, hurt his left elbow after a second-period collision with Tampa Bay's Sandy McCarthy and did not return.
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"I should be OK in a couple days ... it's hard to say right now, but it won't be a long time," said Forsberg, who described the injury as an hyperextension. "It wasn't a bad hit or anything. I just fell down and my arm was caught out there."
Colorado coach Bob Hartley said Forsberg will undergo a medical examination, but is optimistic the injury is not serious.
"It was not a dirty hit," Hartley said. "Those things will happen. He had a pretty sore elbow after the second period."
The Avalanche were unable to pull off a second consecutive comeback. Colorado beat Florida 7-5 Wednesday night, scoring seven times in the final 22 minutes of play in one of the NHL's biggest rallies.
Tampa Bay goalie Corey Schwab had 17 saves. Colorado's Patrick Roy, who faced 26 shots, fell to 5-9-1 against the Lightning.
The Lightning, who were drubbed 8-2 by the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, have spilt their past six games. The victories have come against Phoenix, Philadelphia and Colorado.
"I like the way we bounced back after a real bad night against Washington," Tampa Bay coch Jacques Demers said. "We showed some character. This is not an easy team to beat."
Hogue put the lightning up 1-0 at 14:28 of the first period during a 2-on-1, scoring on a wrist shot from the left circle following Chris Gratton's pass.
The subject of trade rumors as the March 23 deadline looms, Hogue added his second goal at 18:52, putting home a rebound from the low slot off Petr Svoboda's shot.
"Sometimes people might think I'm playing well to maybe play out of here. I'm here and that's what I'm playing for, to stay here," said Hogue, who has a three-game point streak. "I just want to get out there and have some good games. I don't think about trades at all."
The Lightning outshot Colorado 12-3 during the opening period.
The Avalanche, 2-5-4 in the past 11 games, got within 2-1 on their first second-period shot when Forsberg scored on the power play from pointblank range. Colorado is 30-2-9 in the past two seasons when Forsberg scores a goal.
"They really got tight on us and played a very good game," Hartley said. "If they would play every game like they played tonight, they would be better in the standings."
The Lightning, who have the NHL's worst-record at 14-42-5, appeared to take a 3-1 lead with 7:44 left in the third period. However, a video replay determined Alexandre Daigle's shot hit both posts and never crossed the goal line.
Tampa Bay defenseman Cory Cross returned after missing 12 games with a hip pointer.
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