NHL: Tampa Bay 5, Carolina 1

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore scored first-period goals Monday, sparking the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-1 victory over Carolina.

St. Louis donated two assists and Moore and Brett Clark each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning, which continued its best start in franchise history by winning its fourth straight.

At 19-10-4, Tampa Bay pulled into a second-place tie with Washington in the Southeast Division, one point behind surprising Atlanta.

Sean Bergenheim and Steven Stamkos scored and Dan Ellis turned aside 21 shots for the victors.

Sergei Samsonov scored and Justin Peters stopped 29-of-34 shots for the Hurricanes, whose four-game winning streak was snapped.