NHL: Tampa Bay 4, Vancouver 3

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Brad Richards gave Tampa Bay a two-goal lead in the third period Thursday and the Lightning held on to defeat Vancouver 4-3.

Richards also had two assists and Martin St. Louis had three to help Tampa Bay win for the first time in three games. Karri Ramo made 23 saves.

Vancouver has dropped six of seven.

The Lightning took a 3-2 lead into the final period before Richards connected on a slapshot 8:34 into the stanza. Richards beat Roberto Luongo on the short side for his 16th goal of the year.

That turned out to be vital when Alexander Elder brought Vancouver within one with 24.1 seconds left.

Vancouver had beaten Tampa Bay in their three previous meetings.