Two Late Goals Put Lightning Ahead
A two-game winning streak doesn't sound that impressive, but it's something special for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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"It wasn't enough -- one win. We had to come back and show it wasn't a fluke," Lightning coach Jacques Demers said of his team, which snapped a 15-game winless streak Wednesday. "I just like the way the team battled."
Craig Janney drew the defense toward the slot and sent a backhanded pass to Renberg, who scored on a wrist shot from the right circle at 4:55 to break a 1-1 tie.
Kubina made it 3-1 with 2:59 remaining and Bill Ranford stopped 37 shots in recording his first Tampa Bay victory.
"That's a start," Ranford said. "The team really struggled, but we found a way to win."
Ray Ferraro scored for the Kings with 1:42 left.
The teams exchanged breakaway goals in the second period. Kings right wing Russ Courtnall scored at 1:28, then Tampa Bay's Darcy Tucker tied it with a shorthanded goal at 7:26.
"We could have put the game away, probably in the first 15 minutes," Los Angeles coach Larry Robinson said. "Ranford made a couple diving stops -- actually incredible stops where guys were just shaking their head. Then the shorthanded goal just kind of took the steam out of us."
Many Legace became the third Kings goaltender to get hurt this week, leaving the game with a mild concussion after Tucker crashed into him after scoring a goal. A team spokesman said Legace is day-to-day.
Ryan Bach, acquired in a trade from Detroit on Thursday, had an impressive NHL debut, stopping 21 of 23 shots after replacing Legace.
Los Angeles goalies Stephane Fiset and Jamie Storr both missed their second consecutive game after suffering groin injuries last Sunday. Fiset skated Friday morning and is day-to-day, while Storr is out indefinitely.
"It's just plain bad luck ," Robinson said. "What can you do?"
Rob Blake extended his assist streak to four consecutive games by setting up both Los Angeles goals.
The Lightning were without defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, who left the team's morning skate early with back spasms. Kings center Jozef Stumpel, who led the team with 79 points last season, is day-to-day after sitting out his second game with a hip flexor strain.
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