Sundin delivers in clutch as Toronto edges Tampa Bay in shootout

After the first skaters on each team scored, Brad Richards flew in on net, but Scott Clemmensen made a stick save on Richards' wrister. Sundin then came in on net and lifted a backhander past Karri Ramo.

Jason Blake had a goal and two assists while Clemmensen finished the game with 30 saves for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"We've got to start winning hockey games," said Blake. "Clemmensen played a great game. We wanted to win the game in regulation, but we were able to do it in the shootout and that is what we wanted."

Andreas Karlsson, St. Louis and Paul Ranger each scored a goal for the Lightning, who have dropped five straight and eight of their last nine games. Ramo made 26 saves.

"We've got to start a winning streak," said St. Louis. "Our goal is to make the playoffs and tonight would have been a good start. We've got to keep the puck in the opposing zone more."

Tampa Bay grabbed a 1-0 lead with 6:31 left in the first period as Karlsson tipped in a Jan Hlavac pass at the right side.

Toronto, though, grabbed a 2-1 lead in the second period with a pair of goals.

Blake tied the game as he tucked in a rebound behind Ramo from the right side at the 3:23 mark. Sundin gave the Leafs the lead on a 2-on-1 break as he faked the shot to get Ramo down and then flicked the puck into the left corner with 10:21 left in the period.

However, the Lightning tied the game just 29 seconds later. A left circle faceoff win went to Vaclav Prospal, who immediately sent it to the slot for St. Louis, who one-timed it over Clemmensen's glove.

The Maple Leafs, though, again grabbed the lead, this time with 2:33 left as Hal Gill's slap shot from the right point beat a screened Ramo for a 3-2 advantage.

With time winding down in the third period, Prospal sent a pass from the low left side to the left point where Ranger one-timed a shot that hit off a Leaf in front and went into the net with just 41 seconds to play.

Game Notes

Toronto plays in Pittsburgh on Thursday...Tampa Bay plays in Montreal on Thursday...Toronto has won seven of the last eight games against Tampa Bay...Neither team scored on the power play as Tampa Bay had four chances and Toronto two.