Tampa Bay skates past Coyotes

Vincent Lecavalier scored two goals and added an assist and goalie Mike Smith had 30 saves as the Tampa Bay Lightning skated past the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1 at Jobing.com Arena on Monday night.

Tampa Bay jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on Lecavalier’s first goal 5:59 into the action, and just about 9 minutes later Alex Tanguay made it 2-0 on a power play goal.

Phoenix got on the board just before the first intermission on a power play goal by defenseman Adrian Aucoin, who beat Smith on a one-timer with :40 left in the period.

The Lightning extended their lead to 3-1 4:30 into the 2nd when Martin St. Louis directed a rebound past Coyotes goalie Jason LaBarbera. Lecavalier then closed the scoring on his 2nd of the night at 11:46 of the 3rd.

The loss was the Coyotes’ 5th in their last 7 games, and they’re now tied for 8th place in the Western Conference standings with Dallas and Vancouver. Phoenix hits the road for back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday in Minnesota and St. Louis before returning to Glendale to host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

Highlights from NHL.com/Fox Sports Arizona

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