NHL: Tampa Bay 3, Boston 1

BOSTON, March 13 (UPI) -- Mike Smith made 15 of his 35 saves in the opening period Thursday in lifting Tampa Bay to a 3-1 victory over Boston.

The Lightning won for just the third time in 13 games and got goals from Jeff Halpern, Andreas Karlsson and Vincent Lecavalier. After winning six in a row, the Bruins have lost six of their last seven.

Boston currently holds down seven place in the Eastern Conference, one point in front of Philadelphia. The Bruins host the Flyers on Saturday.

Smith did not give up a goal until 7:57 into the third period, a deflection by Chuck Kobasew that cut Tampa Bay's lead to 2-1. It was Kobasew's 20th goal of the season, equaling a career high.

Lecavalier scored into an empty net with eight seconds left to clinch it. The goal came in his 700th NHL game.