TAMPA The thing that worried Guy Boucher most about Saturday night's season opener with the Thrashers was the first 10 minutes. A big crowd, adrenaline pumping, the Lightning coach hoped his players would not expend too much emotional energy. As it turned out, the Lightning had other problems, such as putting itself in the penalty box way too often. But it did score twice in the first nine minutes and survive a furious Atlanta comeback for a 5-3 victory in front of a loud announced crowd of 19,791 at the St. Pete Times Forum. Steven Stamkos had two goals and three points. Steve Downie and Vinny Lecavalier scored on the power play, and goalie Mike Smith made 27 saves. But the team, which had a 4-0 lead six minutes into the second period, sucked the energy out of itself with seven penalties six in the second period that resulted in six short-handed situations for 10 minutes, 6 seconds. Tampa Bay killed five of the chances, but the effort played havoc with the flow of its game, and when Chris Thorburn scored 7:41 into the third period, the Thrashers had cut the lead to one at 4-3. Stamkos restored order with his tip-in goal with 9:01 left. The Lightning played the first period like it was on fast forward and outshot the Thrashers 20-13 to earn a 2-0 lead. Downie opened the scoring 5:23 into the period from the front of the net, at which defenseman Brett Clark simply threw the puck. It was 2-0 at 8:21 when Moore had an open net at which to shoot after picking up a rebound of forward Teddy Purcell's shot. As good as Tampa Bay was in the first period, that's how sloppy it was in the second. After scoring two goals in the first six minutes, the team lost its steam while trying to kill off five power plays that resulted in Tampa Bay being short-handed for 7:05. Lecavalier's power-play goal 3:20 into the period came on a wicked slap shot from the top of the slot that hit the top right corner and was assisted by forward Simon Gagne's great screen on goalie Chris Mason. Stamkos' goal at 5:21, which prompted a Thrashers timeout, came on a tip-in of a shot by defenseman Victor Hedman. Then came the parade of penalties. Atlanta made it 4-1 with 3:29 left on defenseman Tobias Enstrom's five-on-three goal, a slap shot from the high slot with defenseman Pavel Kubina and forward Dominic Moore in the box. It was 4-2 with 1:47 left on a wrist shot from wing Ben Eager, who picked up a loose puck in the offensive zone. Lightning 5, Thrashers 3 First Period1, Tampa Bay, Downie 1 (Malone, Clark), 5:23 (pp). 2, Tampa Bay, Moore 1 (Purcell, Bergenheim), 8:21. PenaltiesAtlanta bench, served by Peverley (too many men), 3:39. Second Period3, Tampa Bay, Lecavalier 1 (St. Louis, Stamkos), 2:20 (pp). 4, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 1 (Hedman, Downie), 5:21. 5, Atlanta, Enstrom 1 (Bergfors, Ladd), 16:31 (pp). 6, Atlanta, Eager 1, 18:12. PenaltiesEnstrom, Atl (tripping), 1:21; Clark, TB (interference), 5:48; Thorburn, Atl (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:13; Downie, TB (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:13; Hedman, TB (holding), 8:51; Kubina, TB (interference), 11:27; Hainsey, Atl (holding), 13:42; Hedman, TB (tripping), 15:30; Moore, TB (goaltender interference), 15:48. Third Period7, Atlanta, Thorburn 1 (Sopel, Eager), 7:41. 8, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 2 (R.Jones), 10:59. PenaltiesLecavalier, TB (high-sticking), 4:13; Byfuglien, Atl (interference), 14:20; Eager, Atl (roughing), 19:51. Shots on GoalAtlanta 13-9-830. Tampa Bay 20-9-736. Power-play opportunitiesAtlanta 1 of 6; Tampa Bay 2 of 5. GoaliesAtlanta, Mason 1-1-0 (36 shots-31 saves). Tampa Bay, Smith 1 0 (30-27). A19,791 (19,758). T2:20. RefereesChris Rooney, Francois St. Laurent. LinesmenJonny Murray, Pierre Racicot. 