Miikka Kiprusoff (34) gets ready for what would turn-out to be a busy night, stopping 74 Penguin shots all-together.

And here we go, to the St.Pete Times Forum in Tampa Bay, Florida, as Brian's Lighting host Zak's Buffalo Sabres for Game Seven of the first round!. This has been an exciting series, which has averaged 12.3 goals-per-game, and seen the series lead change-hands several times. On one hand we have the Sabres, who after winning game one, dropped two straight and fought to stave-off elimination on the strength of Tomas Vanek's 8 goals. Oh, and don't forget that Buffalo also has the league's leading scorer in Tim Connolly (54 goals) who has yet to tally during the playoffs. On the other side, the Lighting have been firing on all cylinders, with Vincent Lecavalier's 14 goals being far-and-away the tops in the league (next-closest is 11). Who will come-out on top after this projected shoot-out? Let's go!

Jarome Iginla (12) puts the Flames on-the-board with this goal in the 1st.

Well, it took less than 80 seconds for the scoring to get underway, as Martin St.Louis would get a break and blast one from the blue line for the 1st goal. And just 2 minutes later, St.Louis would add another, this time deking Miller from the doorstep. Things would be quiet unti the 16-minute-mark, when Martin St.Louis would complete the NATURAL HAT-TRICK and score a third-straight time. Nothing else doing, so that's how we'd end the first period, with the Lighting leading the Sabres, 3 to nothing.

"Scary" Gary Roberts (10) looks-on helplessly as David Moss (25) punches-one-in for the Calgary 4th line.

Not much was going on in the 2nd period, until Martin St.Louis decided to let someone else score for a change, and Brand Richards obliged and burned-one-by Miller on the powerplay. But, a short while later (on another Tampa powerplay) Mike Cammalleri would catch a break and knock-in a short-hander to put Buffalo on-the-board. Their celebration would be short-lived, and Brad Richards would score again (same powerplay) 63 seconds later. Buffalo would actually apply a little pressure towards the close of the period, but that's how we'd end the 2nd with the Lightning trailing the Sabres 5 to 1.

Evgeni Malkin (71) would be the only Penguin to show-up. Here he backhands-in his first of two goals on the night, enroute to 3rd Star honors.

Buffalo would put the pressure on early, and it would pay dividends as Mike Cammalleri would score again. But, again, short-lived and all...as Vincent Lecavallier drive-home his league-leading 15th goal in 7 playoff games. Five minutes later, Brad Richards would score to join teammate Martin St.Louis in the hat-trick department. And as if things couldn't get any worse for Buffalo, Martin St.Louis decided to score again.

Alex Tanguay (44) drills-home a one-timer for this 1st period Calgary goal.