Nikolai Khabibulin leads the Tampa to the leaders of the Eastern Conference

Nikolai Khabibulin defended his 35th joke in his career and brought the victory to his "Tampa-Bay" in a meeting with Colorado 3: 0. Thus, Tampa won the fifth match in a row and does not lose in regular time in the last 12 meetings.

Moreover, Tampa entered the leaders of the Eastern Conference along with Philadelphia and Ottawa. This victory was 18 for the team on the road. In this match, Brad Richards abandoned his 21st puck in the season 5:21 until the end of the first period to the right corner of David Aibisher's gates. It was this goal that became victorious for Lighting.

After the without second period, Vincans Lekavalier and Martin Saint-Louis were thrown by the puck, which finally consolidated the victory for the "lightning". Recall that “Colorado” is the second team in the West, but in the last seven matches on its ice, “Evelansh” abandoned only six goals.

In addition, Colorado won only once in the last eight meetings. However, it is impossible to discount that Evelansh was injured by a leader who is Peter Forsberg. Saint-Louis increased its productive series to 12 matches in a row. Note that Lekavalier made one, and Ruslan Fedotenko two assists. And finally, for Khabibulin, this joke became the third in the season.

In other matches, Jason Ward scored 24 seconds before the end of the main time at the Devils and Montreal gate and celebrated a difficult victory of 2: 1. In Nashville Matt Kate brought Chicago a draw in a meeting with Pre -Rotorz, abandoning less than two minutes before the end of the match.