Callahan scores twice, Lightning spoils St. Louis' return to Tampa

By Spectrum Sports Staff Florida

PUBLISHED 6:48 PM ET Nov. 26, 2014

Ryan Callahan scored twice against his former team for the second time in 10 days, and Tampa Bay beat former Lightning captain Martin St. Louis and the New York Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night.

St. Louis played in Tampa for the first time since requesting a trade and being dealt to the Rangers for Callahan last March in a rare swap of captains. A video tribute in the first period that started with boos from the fans turned into mostly cheers by the conclusion.

Some fans booed each time St. Louis touched the puck. He did not have a point in the game.

Tampa Bay went ahead 3-2 when Steven Stamkos skated behind the net and got his second assist of the night setting up Callahan, who beat Henrik Lundqvist from in close at 10:17 of the second.

Callahan, who had an assist of his own, also notched two goals in Tampa Bay's 5-1 win in New York last week.

Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov had the other Tampa Bay goals, and Ben Bishop improved to 7-0-0 against the Rangers.

New York got goals from Mats Zuccarello, Dan Boyle and Rick Nash.

Stamkos opened the scoring at 5:25 of the first. The goal ended the Rangers' scoreless streak at 128 minutes, 16 seconds. They had shutout wins over Philadelphia and Montreal after the Nov. 17 loss to Tampa Bay.

After Zuccarello scored from the slot 9 minutes in, Boyle put the Rangers up 2-1 with a power-play goal 2:04 later.

With Nash serving a double minor, Callahan pulled the Lightning even at 2 with 2:26 left in the first.

Shortly after St. Louis failed to score on an in-close chance, Kucherov made it 4-2 at 9:38 of the third.

Nash cut the Rangers' deficit to 4-3 with 7:11 left.

NOTES: St. Louis remains two points shy of becoming the 81st NHL player to reach 1,000 points. ... Nash got his 300th assist on Zuccarello's goal. ... Tampa Bay D Victor Hedman (broken finger) could play in the next week. ... Rangers D Ryan McDonagh (separated shoulder) might return as soon as this weekend. ... Lightning rookie F Jonathan Drouin was a healthy scratch for the second time in the last six games. ... There was a video tribute and a moment of silence before the game for former NHL player and coach Pat Quinn, who died this week.