Lightning Rallies to Stay Undefeated

Cory Stillman scored a tiebreaking short-handed goal early in the third period and undefeated Tampa Bay overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Minnesota Wild, 3-2, Saturday night at Tampa, Fla.

It was the Lightning’s franchise-best sixth consecutive victory to open the season.

“We’re on a roll here right now and we didn’t want to end that,” Brad Richards said. “To come back from 2-0, it’s huge. It’s so much more confidence for the guys. We’re happy and proud of ourselves.”

Richards and Vincent Lecavalier scored for the Lightning, the first team since the Dallas Stars in 1996-97 to open the season with six victories in a row.

The NHL record for consecutive wins to start the season is 10, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993-94.

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New York Rangers 3, Detroit 1 -- Petr Nedved scored for the second consecutive game and the host Rangers ended a seven-game winless streak against the Red Wings dating to 1999.

The Rangers also ended a seven-game winless streak against Detroit at Madison Square Garden dating to 1997.

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Ottawa 6, Montreal 2 -- Marian Hossa had three assists at Montreal to help the Senators extend their winning streak to four.

The Canadiens had not given up more than one goal in a game and had won five of six since a season-opening 5-2 loss at Ottawa.

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Florida 3, Atlanta 2 -- Olli Jokinen scored a third-period goal and backup goalie Steve Shields made 33 saves at Atlanta, and the Panthers handed the Thrashers their first loss in regulation this season.

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New York Islanders 7, Pittsburgh 2 -- Mariusz Czerkawski and Trent Hunter each scored two goals at Uniondale, N.Y., and the Islanders won for the third time in four games.

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Toronto 4, Washington 1 -- Mats Sundin scored his first goal this season and 300th with the host Maple Leafs, who won their third in a row, and Ed Belfour made 39 saves en route to his 404th win to move past Grant Fuhr for sixth on the career list.

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Colorado 5, Nashville 3 -- Milan Hejduk scored two goals fewer than two minutes apart in the second period to help the Avalanche win at Nashville for the sixth consecutive time.

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Boston 5, New Jersey 2 -- Rookie Andrew Raycroft made 31 saves and Boston scored four third-period goals to rally at East Rutherford, N.J.

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Carolina 4, Philadelphia 4 -- Mark Recchi scored short-handed late in the third period and Philadelphia rallied from an early two-goal deficit to earn a tie at home.

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Dallas 3, Columbus 2 -- Bill Guerin assisted on three third-period goals at Columbus, Ohio, including one by Jason Arnott midway through the third period that ended the Stars’ scoreless string at 160 minutes 41 seconds.

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Calgary 4, Edmonton 2 -- Jarome Iginla had a goal and two assists at Edmonton, Canada, and backup goaltender Jamie McLennan started again in place of injured Roman Turek and stopped 16 shots to improve to 4-1-0.

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Phoenix 4, San Jose 4 -- Scott Thornton scored on his own rebound with 4 minutes 37 seconds to play and Phoenix rallied to tie the host Sharks.

Paul Mara and Mike Sillinger had given Phoenix the lead with goals midway through the third period.