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  Tuesday, Dec. 14 7:30pm ET
Lightning score 4 straight to tie Predators
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- You can never count the Tampa Bay Lightning out.

Steve Guolla scored with just more than six minutes left in the third period to complete a four-goal comeback as the Tampa Bay Lightning tied the Nashville Predators 4-4 Tuesday night.

"We're never say never kids," Tampa Bay coach Steve Ludzik said. "You never like saying that's a great point, but it was a great point to be honest. It was a great finish, like a horse race."

Guolla lifted a backhander over Nashville's Mike Dunham, helping the Lightning record their first four-game unbeaten streak in two years. The comeback was the biggest ever by Tampa Bay.

"Four (goal lead), I would probably think that it's almost game, set, match ... but we shot ourselves in the foot," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "I'd say the goals came fairly easy in the game and our guys thought they were going to have an easy night. I give a lot of credit to Tampa Bay, they hung in there and battled back."

The Lightning have comeback from three-or-more goal deficits four times this season, going 2-1-1.

Mike Sillinger had two goals for Tampa Bay, including a momentum changing short-handed one late in the second period.

Patric Kjellberg had a goal and two assists for the Predators. Nashville appeared to put the game away on second period goals by Drake Berehowsky, Cliff Ronning and David Legwand, making it 4-0.

Sillinger's goal with 1.21 seconds left in the second period made it 4-1. Vincent Lecavalier and Sillinger then scored in the opening nine minutes of the third period.

"We spotted them a four-goal lead, which was a little bit of our own fault," Tampa Bay center Darcy Tucker said. "At the same time, once we got back in the game, the guys played well and I think we deserved the point."

Lightning goalie Dan Cloutier was pulled midway through the second period after allowing three goals on eight shots. Cloutier had been spectacular in his previous four starts, recording a .923 save percentage.

"He's bailed us out the last 10 games, so I think we deserve to bail him out once," Sillinger said. "That's what this business is all about."

Tampa Bay's Chris Gratton assisted on Sillinger's second goal and has six points (two goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak.

The game featured the first professional meeting between Lecavalier and Legwand, the top two picks in the 1998 draft.
 


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Nashville 4
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