[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Lightning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin makes a save in the second period.

TAMPA -- It happened again to Nikolai Khabibulin. An opponent took a shot from out wide, Khabibulin had a good look at it but let it slip through his legs for a goal.

The Lightning goalie cringed when he talked about letting the blast from Phoenix's Tony Amonte trickle into the net Monday.

"A bad goal," he said.

But it might have been Khabibulin's only mistake in a terrific 34-save performance during a 4-2 victory in front of 14,439 at the St. Pete Times Forum. And it might have quieted some questions about whether the goalie has been working too hard early in the season.

The questions are natural. Khabibulin has started 15 of the Lightning's 16 games, and even he admitted he has been inconsistent. Goals from out wide have been a particular problem. Coach John Tortorella spoke of how when he was an assistant coach in Phoenix, Khabibulin, who played for the Coyotes, would sit out every fourth or fifth game to get in some practice.

That, apparently, is not an option with the Lightning.

"It's a different situation," Tortorella said. "And by no means is this anything against (backup Kevin Hodson), but we feel Nik is our mainstay and we don't have the luxury right now of taking him out every four or five games. We're trying to get as many points as we can."

Khabibulin had a lot of help against the Coyotes as the Lightning, with 21 points, increased its lead in the Southeast Division to three over the Hurricanes.

The Lightning took a 3-0 first-period lead with goals by Fredrik Modin and Andre Roy 46 seconds apart at 4:28 and 5:14. The three goals knocked out goalie Brian Boucher, who made nine saves, in favor of Patrick DesRochers.

Modin and defenseman Stan Neckar each had a goal and an assist, and Dave Andreychuk scored his 249th power-play goal to tie Phil Esposito's league record.

That goal came 17 seconds into the second and put the Lightning ahead 4-0. It was the fifth goal of the season for Andreychuk, who is two goals short of becoming the 14th player to score 600.

But Andreychuk's goal also was a turning point. Tampa Bay seemed to let down after that. Its forecheck became less effective and the Coyotes took over and outshot the Lightning 36-26.

It was the most shots Tampa Bay allowed this season. It was the most saves for Khabibulin. Amonte scored 4:41 into the second period and Daniel Briere scored 4:10 into the third. In between and after, it was all Khabibulin.

His most important save might have been on Daymond Langkow about two minutes after Briere's goal. Langkow had a breakaway. Khabibulin stopped him with his left leg.

"He's a great goalie," Langkow said. "He showed it again tonight. That's where it starts. That's where you get your confidence from. Teams kind of get rolling from that."

Neckar and, to a much lesser extent, Khabibulin get rolling from playing against their former team. Both came to Tampa Bay in March 2001 for defenseman Paul Mara, wing Mike Johnson and the rights to prospect Ruslan Zainullin.

"I always like to play against them," Neckar said. "We used to play there and the coach is looking at you. You want to show him you can play."

Khabibulin wants to show he can play as well as he did for most of last season. Tortorella said his inconsistency, especially the goals that are coming from out wide, will be remedied, possibly in the three days Tampa Bay has until it faces the Sharks Friday.

"It's a good time to take a little air and practice and not worry about games," Tortorella said.

"I'm not too happy with the way I'm playing, but at the same time I'm trying to stay positive and keep working on and off the ice," Khabibulin said. "I just have to have patience in pratice."