1158 OILERS 8 LIGHTNING 2
Another victory for the Oilers with a patchwork defence although Bryce Salvador was back in the lineup for this one, as was Martin Brodeur. Not much to say other than this was a good old fashioned butt-kicking, with the scoring well spread around (except for Lecavalier who mysteriously was held off the point sheet). Roman Hamrlik and Craig Rivet both finished with +5 ratings.
Hamrlik's goal was interesting:
5. OILERS, KAPANEN 11 (ROBITAILLE, GRIER), 14:50
6. OILERS, HAMRLIK 9 (ROBITAILLE, GRIER), 14:51
Here's what happened. Having just scored a goal, Niko Kapanen was overly excited in the faceoff circle and was tossed out. Mike Grier won the faceoff in his place and the puck quickly squirted out sideways, rapidly deflecting off Randy Robitaille's stick before heading back to Roman Hamrlik's position. Hamrlik was already winding up for the slapshot and fired the puck off in the blink of an eye which went all the way across centre ice and over Jason Labarbera's shoulder at the other end of the ice. Thus, goals one second apart. Labarbera was then pulled from the Tampa net for his ineptitude.
The Oilers have a meeting with the Penguins tomorrow.