The Tampa Bay Lightning (29-15-5) fell to the Dallas Stars (28-17-4) 3-2 in overtime on Monday evening in Dallas.
After a scoreless first period, Steven Stamkos got the scoring started at the 13:41 mark in the second period. Denis Guriav scored to tie the game up in the second period and head into the final period involved in a hard-fought tie.
Jamie Benn scored for the Stars at the 9:06 mark of the second period to take a 2-1 lead. As the game came down the stretch, it appeared the Stars would hang onto the regulation win - even as the Lightning pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy to add an extra attacker. That was when Steven Stamkos came through with his second goal of the night, at the 18:34 mark of the third, to tie the game 2-2 and earn a huge point for Tampa Bay.
In the overtime frame it was Dallas coming through large - Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the game, at the 2:07 mark of overtime, to secure a 3-2 victory for the Stars and complete a season sweep over Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy went 32-for-35 in net for Tampa Bay, while former Bolts goaltender Ben Bishop went 23-for-25 in net to secure the win for Dallas.
The Lightning now head west for the remainder of the week - they return to action on Wednesday night in Los Angeles against the Kings. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 PM Wednesday - pregame coverage begins at 9:30 PM on News Radio WFLA.
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