TAMPA, Fla – Pittsburgh regained the series lead, but it game 3 of the Penguins clash with Tampa Bay was marred by two controversial hits as the action moved to the sunshine state.
The Pens were given an early opportunity as Max Talbot scored on a delayed penalty call 5 minutes in to the game after Steven Downie’s hit on ben Lovejoy behind the Pittsburgh goal. The hit certainly had mild echos of Downie’s infamous check on Dean McAmmond, that earned the then Philadelphia forward a 20 game suspension. The Ontario native is scheduled for a disciplinary hearing to assess whether the charging penalty is worth more severe action.
Aaron Asham extended the Penguins lead less than a minute later after Mike Rupp slipped past the Bolts D to feed the veteran grinder at Dwayne Roloson’s back door, triggering a time out call from Lighting coach Guy Boucher.
It was the Penguins making waves again shortly after, but once more it was for the wrong reasons as Chris Kunitz caught winger Simon Gagne with a nasty elbow. The oft injured forward was ok but the league will also meet with Kunitz and decide whether they want to go further than the two minute penalty handed out on the play at the time.
And there was yet more action for the fans before the period was done, when Martin St Louis stuffed home the rebound after Steven Stamkos had been denied by Marc Andre Fleury in the Penguins net.
After a goalless second period, St Louis struck again in the 3rd to level the score only for Tyler Kennedy to jump on a loose puck in front of the Lighting goal 31 seconds later and restore the Pens lead.
Despite a late charge from the home side the Penguins held firm, Fleury finishing with 25 saves to rebound from a 5-1 loss in game 2.
Game 4 takes place in Tampa Bay on Wednesday night.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
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