Hodson's saving grace? 23 stops

BRANDON -- What a difference 23 shots make, especially when you stop them all.

One day after Kevin Hodson drew attention for having the worst save percentage among the four goaltenders in training camp, he made 23 saves in the Red's 5-0 scrimmage victory over the Blue on Wednesday at the Ice Sports Forum.

"Today was just one of those days when everything seemed to jell," said Hodson, who is 3-2 and raised his save percentage from .819 to .855. "Hopefully, I can feed off that. But I'm no more excited today than compared to a week ago. It's just another business day and I treat it as such."

Goaltenders coach Jeff Reese called it Hodson's "best day."

"Hopefully that's going to be a good confidence booster for him," Reese said. "It takes time and there's going to be some rust, but I think he felt a lot better about his game today."

The Lightning hopes Hodson, who has not played an NHL game since February 2000, will be Nikolai Khabibulin's backup. But with no other NHL-ready goalies in camp, either Hodson works out or Tampa Bay investigates the Oct. 4 waiver draft or free agency for a replacement.

Exhibition games, the first of which is Friday at Atlanta, will determine Hodson's fate.

"I just try to prepare as good as I can and be as accountable as I can and work as hard as I can," Hodson said.

Said Reese: "Today he looked a lot more in control. He was able to control rebounds and he knew where the puck was through the whole scrimmage. That just comes down to getting some games and playing time.

"The exhibition games will be a step up. There will be a few more adjustments. Hopefully, this day is a confidence builder for him and he is starting to come around."

ALEXEEV GETS THREE: For the second consecutive scrimmage, left wing Nikita Alexeev shined while playing with center Vinny Lecavalier and Ruslan Fedotenko.

Alexeev had a hat trick and Lecavalier had two assists for the Red. Alexeev has four goals and an assist in two games with his new linemates who are vying to be the Lightning's No. 2 line.

"This could be a great line," Lecavalier said. "We played very well. We know where each other is and made some great plays."

FIRST FIGHT: It took five days of scrimmages but punches were finally thrown when left wing Gordie Dwyer and defenseman Kristian Kudroc squared off after each took sticks to the face.

"It wasn't really a fight," Dwyer said. "No violent punches were thrown. Just keeping guys honest."

Confrontations have been kept to a minimum by coach John Tortorella's edict that players not take runs at each other.

"I didn't want it to be a brawling type camp," Tortorella said. "They should defend themselves, but not go out and look for it."

BLACK EYE: Defenseman Cory Sarich needed six stitches near his left eye after taking an accidental stick in the face from defenseman Stan Neckar. Sarich does not wear a visor but said such incidents could prompt a change.

"You don't want to wait until it's too late," he said.

SCRIMMAGES: Khabibulin got his second shutout and raised his save percentage to .904 with 35 stops in the Black's 2-0 victory over the White. Center Tim Taylor assisted on goals by Andre Roy and Shane Willis, who got his fourth goal in two days. ... Today is the last day of scrimmages. The Black (4-1) faces the Red (3-2) for first place. ... Vinny Prospal's four-game point streak ended with Hodson's shutout. The center has a team-high 11 points on a goal and 10 assists. Roy's 10 points (two goals and eight assists) are next.

FREE LUNCH: The Lightning will offer free hamburgers, hot dogs, beer and soda from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum. Center Brian Holzinger will sign autographs from noon-1 p.m. Park in the VIP East lot.