Boyle's hat trick helps Lightning past struggling Rangers

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12/24/2006 - Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Boyle netted his first career hat trick, with all three goals coming in the third period, as the Tampa Bay Lightning completed a stunning comeback to defeat the New York Rangers, 4-3, at St. Pete Times Forum.

Boyle, who is only the second defenseman in Tampa Bay history to record a hat trick, also notched an assist on Vincent Lecavalier's game-tying goal as the Lightning won their third straight game, equaling their best win streak of the season. Tampa Bay had gone 1-7-1 in its last nine games before the three-win stretch.

Marc Denis allowed three goals on just 16 shots in two periods of play before Johan Holmqvist took over netminding duties in the third and made 12 saves to ice the win.

Martin Straka had a goal and an assist, and Blair Betts and Aaron Ward also tallied for the Rangers, who dropped their fifth straight contest. New York last dropped five in a row to close the 2005-06 regular season.

Henrik Lundqvist returned to the lineup after battling the flu and made 22 saves, but stopped just six of ten shots in the final stanza amidst the Rangers collapse.

Trailing 3-0 heading into the final period, Tampa Bay's offense exploded for three goals in under five minutes to tie things up before grabbing the lead for good later in the stanza.

Boyle started things off by scoring on the power play with 1:02 expired in the period.

He followed up that effort just 1:27 later with another marker, then assisted on Lecavalier's power-play goal that tied the score at 5:56.

Boyle completed the hat trick on a wrist shot from the slot to make it 4-3 with 8:57 left.

Amazingly, New York outshot Tampa Bay 12-10 in the final period and also pulled their netminder with under a minute remaining, but couldn't get off a shot with the man-advantage.

New York finished the night 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Lightning went 2-for-6.

Given a 5-on-3 for over a minute, the Rangers cashed in just 42 seconds later with their first score of the contest. Brendan Shanahan fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that was blocked, but the rebound came out to Straka just inside the right circle and he was able to bang the puck into empty net at 16:37 in the first period.

The Blueshirts struck again with just 52 ticks remaining in the period, off a turnover just inside the blue line. Betts corralled the puck and fired a 49- foot slapshot that flew over the glove of Denis for the 2-0 advantage.

New York took a 3-0 lead on Ward's third tally of the season and his first since October. Nylander started the play, sliding a pass to Straka after striding across the blueline. Straka played the puck off the boards before sending a cross-ice pass to Ward, who beat Denis on a one-timer at 8:17 in the second period.

Game Notes

Lecavalier has a point in 11 of his last 12 games, recording 11 goals and 10 assists in the stretch...Brad Richards had a pair of assists for Tampa Bay...Michael Nylander also returned for New York after missing three games with the flu...The Rangers are 3-1-2 in their last six matchups with the Lightning, but have lost in five of their last seven visits to Tampa...Tampa Bay has the weakest penalty-killing team in the NHL, allowing a goal in one out of every four power-plays against them this season...The official attendance was 20,122.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
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In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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