WRAL Sports Fan

Final Score: Tampa Bay 4, Carolina 1

Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Tom Pyatt and Cory Conacher netted first-period goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning shocked the Carolina Hurricanes by a 4-1 count in Southeast Division action.

Keith Aulie and Ryan Malone added third-period scores and Vincent Lecavalier posted two assists for the Lightning, who have won two of three to start the season.

"It was important to get off to an early start and that carried us," Malone admitted.

Mathieu Garon stopped 35-of-36 shots for the victory, Tampa's fifth in the last six games in North Carolina's capital.

Jeff Skinner provided the lone offense for the Hurricanes, who have lost two in a row to kick off the year. Cam Ward allowed all four scores on 26 shots in defeat.

"We were a better team tonight than we were the other night," said Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller. "But we're 0-2 to start the year and we need to be tougher in the defensive end and more productive on offense."

Aulie's tally from the left circle the Bolts a 3-1 edge at 1:37 of the third period, and Malone's easy tap-in from the left side of the crease on a power play upped Tampa's advantage to three just before the midway point.

Garon closed out his first win of the abbreviated schedule with 15 saves in the final 20 minutes.

Pyatt opened the scoring at 5:18 of the first period by batting a Lecavalier centering feed out of the air on the backhand in the slot. Conacher made it 2-0 by stuffing home a Lecavalier rebound in front with 11:36 played.

Carolina had a brief 5-on-3 power play early in the second period, but Skinner lifted a rebound home on the ensuing one-man edge at 3:35.

Game Notes

Bolts forwards Teddy Purcell and Steven Stamkos added assists and tied for the team lead thus far with four apiece ... Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was in attendance.