HAWKS FAIL TO BOTTLE UP LIGHTNING

"I'd like to have most of those shots back. They were shooting from strange angles and I just wasn't square to the puck on a couple of them. The guys did a good job keeping them outside the hash marks but I didn't make the saves we needed tonight. To come up empty like that at home is pretty disappointing," said Blackhawks goalie Rick Tabaracci, who allowed four goals on only 17 shots in a 4-3 loss.

Chicago got off to a fast start on Tuesday night vs. Tampa, with Barry Pederson scoring his 8th of the campaign 65 seconds into the first period. The visitors only mustered five shots on goal but two of them got past Tabaracci. Rice and Yegorov got credit for the goals, and it was 2-1 Lightning at intermission.

The second period was very similar to the first, with the Blackhawks limiting their opponents to four shots, but the result was the same. The Lightning scored twice on only four shots to take a 4-1 lead. Paul Kariya cut that lead down by one with a late goal, but other than, Ron Tugnutt stood tall by stopping 24 of 26 shots after 40 minutes.

The third period featured tight-checking from both teams as Tampa tried to hold on and Chicago tried to claw their way. Cliff Ronning scored at 13:47, but that was as close as the Hawks could get to tying it up. Even with Morin serving a double minor for cross-checking for the final four minutes and an extra attacker on the ice to make it 6 on 4, the Blackhawks were unable to get another puck behind Tugnutt. He made 32 saves on 35 shots to steal the victory.

Off the Hawks go to Columbus on Wednesday for their second matchup of the season with the Blue Jackets. It's an important game for both teams as they battle for positioning in a competitive division and Conference.