Mike Richards and Jeff Carter each scored two goals in the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday.

Carter, the burgeoning NHL star, scored his league leading 17 and 18 goals of the season. He is tied with Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek.

Carter opened up the scoring just 2:58 into the first period on a wrist shot from the faceoff circle, snapping the game opener passed Lightning goalie Mike Smith, who stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced.

“I’m getting some breaks,” Carter said.  “I just try to put it on net and find some holes and they are right now so hopefully they can keep on going.”

Former Legion of Doom member Mark Recchi tied the game up with 8:10 left in the first. It was the 20-year veteran’s sixth goal of the season. Recchi would not be the only former Flyer to have a significant impact on the outcome of the game.

The second period passed by without any scoring, but the same could not be said for the third. Just 36 seconds into the period, Richards broke the 1-1 tie on a nifty move, poking the puck past former Flyer defenseman Steve Eminger, taking it up the left hand boards, faking a pass and wristing a laser past Smith for his fourth shorthanded goal of the season, something he has mastered over his three plus years in the NHL. The Flyers lead the NHL with 10 shorthanded goals on the season, with both Richards and Simone Gagne having four each.

The red hot Carter would add a second goal exactly four minutes later, this a powerplay goal. He rebounded defenseman Joffrey Lupul’s shot that had eluded the Lightning netminder in the crease.

“I just put them on net.,” Carter said.  Good things happen you when you put it on the net.  I haven’t changed anything.  I just go out and try and help the team every night.  Things are rolling right now.”

Whatever he’s doing, it certainly seems to be working. Carter now has a point in six of his last seven games.

After seemingly in control of the momentum and the game, the Flyers gave up a weird goal just 21 seconds later. Former Flyer Vinnie Prospal (a theme appears to be forming here) scored on a strange, arching goal that fluttered over the head of Flyers’ goalie Martin Biron. The shot originated from Eminger, but after careening off one other Lightning player, ultimately rickashayed off the two-time Flyer.

With just 4:35 left in the third, former Flyer (seriously?) Steve Downie tied the game on a rebound off a hard shot by Radek Smolenak. The long, hard slapper eluded Biron, trickling past his pads. Downie rushed the net and poked it past him. It was a shot Biron should have had, but had a solid night otherwise, stopping 35 Tampa Bay shots on the night.

The Downie goal would ultimately send the game into overtime, netting each team at least one point in the standings.

The Flyers managed to avoid the dreaded overtime shootout when Richards scored his second goal of the game, and the team’s second powerplay goal of the evening. The Flyers continue to dominate the penalty killing, killing off all three Lightning power plays, including scoring that shorthanded goal.

It was a good win, getting the Flyers back on the positive side of the ledger after dropping two in a row. The Flyers had won six straight games before hitting their mini slump, but rebounded nicely against Tampa Bay.

In addition to Recchi, Prospal, Eminger, and Downie, former Flyer Chris Gratton is also a member of the Lightning, although he was an injury scratch. All three Tampa goals were scored by former Flyers. Tampa Bay coach Rick Tocchet also used to wear the Orange and Black, and the Flyers played a video tribute to the hard-nosed former player late in the third period. The Flyers’ faithful gave the beloved tough man a standing ovation, which Tocchet acknowledged with a wave from the Tampa Bay bench.

In other notes, center Danny Briere returned to action after missing nine games with a groin pull, but he did not factor into the game. In fact, he looked rather flat, and has clearly not yet fully recovered. Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren said that defenseman Randy Jones (torn labrum/right hip) could return to the lineup Saturday in Carolina. Jones’ return would mean the team would have to clear cap space, most likely by waiving Lasse Kukkonen, among other moves. Holmgren did not get into specifics, but said a plan was in place.

The Flyers resume action Thursday at home against the New Jersey Devils. The puck drops at 7:00 PM.