Stamkos’ fine hat-trick sparks Lightning
TAMPA: Steven Stamkos had three goals to become the first player from the 2008 draft to reach 700 points, and the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning won their seventh consecutive game by beating the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night.
Stamkos scored power-play goals that tied the game in the first and second periods. The centre completed his ninth hattrick and first since Oct 13, 2014, from the slot at 10:41 of the third.
The Lightning star has 701 points in 696 career games. He joins Martin St Louis (953) and Vincent Lecavalier (874) as the only Tampa Bay players reaching the 700point milestone.
Ryan McDonagh had a go-ahead goal, Anthony Cirelli had the other two Tampa Bay goals, and Louis Domingue made 23 saves.
At Uniondale, Jake Guentzel scored the decisive goal in the shoot-out to lift Pittsburgh over the Islanders 2-1.
Kevin Hayes had two goals and Jesper Fast also scored for the Rangers.
Guentzel also assisted on Derick Brassard’s tying goal in the third period, helping Pittsburgh improve to 3-0-1 in their last four games. Casey DeSmith had 25 saves through regulation and overtime.
Penguins star Phil Kessel beat Robin Lehner in the first round of the shoot-out, but Josh Bailey scored on New York’s third attempt to keep the tie-breaker going. Valtteri Filppula was denied by DeSmith before Guentzel scored the winner.