PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Nate Thompson brought an end to a feast of scoring by producing the game-winner in the third period Thursday to give Tampa Bay an 8-7 win over Philadelphia.
The teams combined for nine goals in the first period, three on a hat trick by Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos had a hat trick, and a Lightning rally produced the final three scores of the contest to snap a seven-game Philadelphia winning streak.
Martin St. Louis had a career-best five assists for Tampa Bay, which won its second straight road game after losing five in a row away from home.
The first two goals in the opening period were scored 32 seconds apart, the next two 16 seconds apart, and there were 14 seconds between the final two of the stanza. Philadelphia had a 5-4 lead after one.
The Flyers owned a 7-5 lead before Steve Downie scored midway through the second. Stamkos then completed his hat trick with 1:01 left in the period to tie it.
After all the scoring in the opening two periods, Thompson's winning goal was the only one produced in the third.
Neither starting goaltender lasted long. Dan Ellis allowed four goals on 10 shots for Tampa Bay before Mike Smith came on to make 19 saves and get the win. Philadelphia rookie Sergei Bobrovsky was removed after giving up four goals on 11 shots. Brian Boucher let in four more on 22 shots.
