YESTERDAY IN THE NHL

PENGUINS at LIGHTNING:

Fredrik Modin scored two powerplay goals and John Grahame stopped 20 shots in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 4- 1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rob DiMaio and Brad Richards also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who rebounded from Friday’s 8-2 loss to New Jersey. The Lightning were 3 for 9 on the power play.

Pittsburgh failed to score on its two power plays. Maxime Talbot netted a shorthanded goal with 1:13 left to spoil Grahame’s shutout bid.

Penguins captain Mario Lemieux didn’t play because of a stomach virus. He had just one assist in the previous three games after sitting out on Nov. 16 at Philadelphia with a similar ailment. Pittsburgh rookie Sidney Crosby was in the lineup, two days after bruising his left foot. He was struck by a shot during Penguins’ 6-3 loss Friday at Florida. SABRES at CAPITALS:

Jason Pominville scored his first NHL goal, and Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht also scored to help the Buffalo Sabres stretch their unbeaten streak to six games with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Vanek scored the go-ahead goal, and Hecht added a shorthanded score late in the third period to help the Sabres improve to 5- 0- 0- 1 in their last six games. Washington has lost four straight. THRASHERS at HURRICANES: Ilya Kovalchuk had two goals and two assists, and Marian Hossa scored the go- ahead goal in the third period to lead the Atlanta Thrashers past the Carolina Hurricanes 5- 2. Marc Savard and Jean- Pierre Vigier also had goals for the Thrashers, who have won both games against the Hurricanes in the RBC Center. Andrew Ladd and Aaron Ward scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of five heading into a six- game road trip that begins tomorrow at Atlanta. WITH FILES FROM STAR WIRE SERVICES