NHL: Tampa Bay 5, Carolina 2

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Ryan Malone produced a hat trick Saturday, scoring two of Tampa Bay's three third-period goals that gave the Lightning a 5-2 win over Carolina.

Tampa Bay won for the first time in four tries this year.

Malone did not score in any of the Lightning's first three games, but broke through in the second period to give Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.

It was a 2-2 contest going into the final period, but Malone snapped the deadlock by scoring on a wrist shot with 9:14 to play.

Steve Downie followed with a power-play goal with 7:00 remaining and Malone scored into an empty net with 1:16 left to complete his hat trick.

Antero Niittymaki made his first start of the season for Tampa Bay and got the victory by making 24 saves. Cam Ward gave up four goals on 38 shots.