Lightning  1    Penguins  4

Recap: Pittsburgh vs. Tampa Bay

Sports Network | October 17, 2009

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Sergei Gonchar registered a goal and an assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, at Mellon Arena.

Bill Guerin, Michael Rupp and Pascal Dupuis also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who returned home after sweeping a four-game road trip. Sidney Crosby notched two assists, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves to begin the season a perfect 7-0-0.

Steven Stamkos had the lone goal for the Lightning, who were coming off their worst setback of the season, a 7-1 drubbing in Ottawa on Thursday.

Antero Niittymaki was beaten four times on 33 shots in defeat.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring on the power play. Evgeni Malkin blasted a shot from the right circle. Niittymaki made the save, but Guerin was on the doorstep and banged home the rebound 4:57 into the game.

Gonchar tallied with 2:50 remaining in the first period, but Stamkos' scored on the power play at 6:18 of the second to make it 2-1. Dupuis restored a two- goal lead two minutes later, and Rupp added an insurance marker in the third.

Pittsburgh has won seven of the last nine meetings with the Lightning...The Penguins opened a five-game homestand that resumes Tuesday against St. Louis...Tampa Bay begins a four-game residency Thursday against San Jose...The Lightning have allowed the first goal in each of its seven games this season.