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Tampa Bay chases Reimer from Leafs net, beat Toronto 6-2

Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Keith Aulie, Colby Armstrong, Joey Crabb

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Mattias Ritola celebrates his second goal of the game with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto on Monday, March 14, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

AP

When you lean on a goalie as much as the Toronto Maple Leafs have been with unexpectedly effective rookie James Reimer lately, you need to anticipate the occasional stumble. Tonight’s game presented one of those situations, as the Tampa Bay Lightning put a damper on Toronto’s playoff hopes with in a 6-2 win.

Tampa Bay 6, Toronto 2

Aside from a 4-2 dagger from Vincent Lecavalier (his 18th goal of the season) and a Dominic Moore tally (No. 13 for the versatile center), the Lightning succeeded by getting goals from unusual sources. Mattias Ritola scored two goals three minutes apart in the second period, including the eventual game winner. Nate Thompson and Mike Lundin also scored a goal each for the Bolts.

That’s not to say that Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis were non-existent, though, as both piled up two assists in the third period.

Dwayne Roloson earned his 20th win of the season, making 30 out of 32 saves for the Lightning. Reimer didn’t make it through the whole contest, getting pulled a little less than nine minutes into the third period after allowing five goals on 29 shots. Jean-Sebastian Giguere allowed one goal on seven shots to finish off the game.

With this win, the Lightning pulled themselves to within three points of the Southeast Division lead behind the Washington Capitals. Both teams have played 70 games and won’t meet again in the regular season. If nothing else, Tampa Bay improved their chances of gaining at least a round’s worth of home ice advantage, as they only trail the fourth-place Pittsburgh Penguins by one point and one win.

The Leafs remain tied with the Atlanta Thrashers at 70 points at 10th place, although Atlanta is technically in ninth since they have a game in hand. They’re also only two points ahead of the hard-charging New Jersey Devils, a team that has two more games remaining than Toronto.

There’s still hope for the playoffs in Toronto, but the Lightning made that outlook a lot less promising.