Jussi Jokinen and Vincent Lecavalier scored in a shootout Tuesday to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 3-2 victory over HC Slovan Bratislava in a preseason game, the first ever for an NHL team in Slovakia.Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith stopped two of Slovan’s shootout attempts.
Evgeny Artyukhin made it 1-0 for the Lightning in the first period before Slovan tied the score when Marek Uram got a goal in the second. Martin Kulha scored a power-play goal in the third and Lecavalier evened the score for the Lightning on a two-man advantage, sending the game into overtime.
It was the second and final preseason game for the Lightning in Europe ahead of two games to start the regular season Saturday and Sunday in Prague, Czech Republic, against the New York Rangers.
The same weekend, the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm, Sweden, as the NHL continues to increase its presence in Europe.
On Sunday, Tampa Bay beat Eisbaren Berlin 4-1 in its first exhibition game in Europe (Associated Press - Sports).
