National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, December 29, 2014
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Referees: Kelly Sutherland, Tim Peel
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Andy McElman
Attendance: 19204

Lightning 3, Maple Leafs 2: Captain Steven Stamkos scored his 20th goal of the season with 8:55 left in the third period to snap a tie as Tampa Bay rallied to complete a perfect three-game homestand.

Ryan Callahan recorded a goal and an assist while Valtteri Filppula also tallied for the Lightning, who matched their season high with 41 shots on goal. Defenseman Victor Hedman notched a pair of assists, Stamkos added another and Ben Bishop turned aside 21 shots for his 18th victory as Tampa Bay improved to 4-1-1 in its last six.

Mike Santorelli and Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs, who let a 2-0 lead get away and lost for the fifth time in six games. James Reimer made 38 saves in his second straight start with fellow goaltender Jonathan Bernier unavailable due to flu-like symptoms.

Santorelli scored from below the right faceoff circle after a cross-ice feed by Nazem Kadri 4:28 into the contest and Lupul was free in front to knock home Tyler Bozak's pass 3:19 later. The Lightning, who posted 32 shots over the first two periods, began the comeback when Callahan batted in a rebound during a power play 6:37 into the middle session.

Tampa Bay tied it with 10:14 left in the second, when Hedman whipped a shot from the top of the right circle that went in off Filppula’s skate. Lightning defenseman Matt Carle kept the puck in at the left point and sent it toward the net, allowing Stamkos to get a stick on it and redirect it past Reimer for the go-ahead tally.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Stamkos has recorded at least 20 goals in each of his first seven NHL seasons and has 253 in 448 career contests. … Toronto RW Richard Panik sat out with a possible concussion and D Stephane Robidas was rested. … Callahan ended his 13-game goal-scoring drought with his 12th of the season. ... The Lightning have earned 31 points (15-4-1) in their first 20 home games of the campaign, the most in franchise history in that span.


Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   Tampa Bay
Joffrey Lupul 1 Points Ryan Callahan 2
Joffrey Lupul 1 Goals Ryan Callahan 1
Tyler Bozak 1 Assists Victor Hedman 2
N/A Power Play Goals Ryan Callahan 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
James Reimer .927 Save Percentage Ben Bishop .913
James Reimer 38 Saves Ben Bishop 21
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Toronto 23 2 0-2 3-4 8 25
Tampa Bay 41 3 1-4 2-2 4 24
Upcoming Games
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Buffalo. The Lightning have a W/L % of .565 after a win and .667 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game on the road against Boston. The Maple Leafs have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .500 after a loss.