NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Martin St. Louis scored a pair of goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning continued the best start in franchise history with a 4-2 victory Monday night over the New York Rangers.
Defenseman Dan Boyle had three assists for the Lightning (4
1), who remained one of only two unbeaten teams in the NHL. They finished 13th or worse in the Eastern Conference each of the previous five seasons.
Playing without its best player, Tampa Bay scored on three of its eight power plays against the undisciplined Rangers, who were booed off home ice after extending their winless streak to three games (0-1-2).
Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier, the first overall pick in the 1998 draft, sat out with a knee injury.
New York had a 2-1 lead following Mark Messier's power-play goal 3:28 into the second period but was whistled for five minor penalties over the next 16 minutes.
The Lightning scored on two of the ensuing power plays, eventually chasing backup goaltender Dan Blackburn. St. Louis tied it at 2-2 with his first goal of the night at 7:39, and Vaclav Prospal made it 3-2 at 14:56.
