Panthers  3    Lightning  2

Florida Panthers (18-20-8) at Tampa Bay Lightning (18-17-10), 7:30 p.m.

Sports Network | January 14, 2010

(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high three games when they welcome the Florida Panthers for tonight's Southeast Division clash at St. Pete Times Forum.

This evening's tilt marks the start of a home-and-home series that will end Saturday on the Panthers' home ice. Tampa Bay earned a 3-2 regulation win over visiting Florida in the lone meeting between the clubs this year back on October 12. The Lightning have won four of five overall in the series and have taken five of the last eight matchups in Tampa.

The Lightning are coming off back-to-back wins, marking the fifth time the club has notched consecutive victories this season. However, Tampa hasn't been able to string together three triumphs in a row since January 19-27 of last season.

Tampa Bay's current winning streak includes victories over a pair of division leaders. The Lightning posted a 4-2 win at New Jersey on Sunday and then slammed Southeast Division-leaders Washington by a 7-4 count on Tuesday.

Steve Stamkos scored twice while Martin St. Louis registered a goal and two assists to lead the Lightning past the visiting Capitals at the Forum.

St. Louis comes into tonight riding an 11-game point streak and has six goals and 11 assists during that run. Stamkos has registered a point in five straight, notching four goals and six assists in that span.

Vinny Lecavalier, Stephane Veilleux, Jeff Halpern and Kurtis Foster also scored for the Lightning.

Mike Smith started between the pipes for Tampa Bay and allowed two goals on 12 shots. Antero Niittymaki turned aside 22 shots in relief and secured the win.

Smith was injured in the game when Washington's Brooks Laich collided with the goaltender with 8:21 left in the first period. Smith remained in the game until being pulled over seven minutes into the second stanza. It now appears that Smith suffered a sprained neck and Niittymaki will get the start in net tonight. If Smith is unable to serve as the backup this evening then Tampa is expected to recall Dustin Tokarski from Norfolk (AHL) to fill that role.

The Lightning, who are 11-5-5 as the host this year, will begin a three-game road trip Saturday in Sunrise.

Meanwhile, the Panthers lost for the third time in four games on Wednesday, dropping a shootout decision to the visiting Washington Capitals. Tomas Fleischmann notched the winner in the sixth round of the shootout, lifting the Caps to the 5-4 decision.

Michael Frolik, Stephen Weiss, Dominic Moore and Gregory Campbell scored for the Panthers. Tomas Vokoun allowed four goals on 37 shots in the loss.

Florida has lost four of its last six road tests and is 11-12-2 as the visiting club this season.