Canes @ Lightning

The Canes and Lightning are scoreless after the opening period at the St. Pete Times Forum, with both goaltenders at their best. Cam Ward had 17 saves in the first period for the Canes while Antero Niittymaki, getting the stary ahead of Mike Smith, faced nine shots. Ward made a spectacular save on a Martin St. Louis shot with 3:15 left in the period as the Canes killed off a penalty against Rod Brind'Amour. Niittymaki didn't have as much work, but he turned back hard shots by Matt Cullen and Tuomo Ruutu in the period. Both teams had a pair of power plays in the first and had their chances, with the Lightning putting 10 shots on goal. The Bolts' Steven Stamkos had a shot find metal, and Ruutu had a good opportunity in the low slot in the closing minutes. With about two minutes left in the first, the Canes' Chad LaRose unleashed a blistering shot from the left circle, the puck banging off the left post.           IITTYMA...