
		[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
		Ruslan Fedotenko celebrates his winning goal against Edmonton. It was Tampa Bay's third victory after trailing entering the third period.

TAMPA -- The bad news just kept coming.

Within hours Thursday, the Lightning learned captain Dave Andreychuk will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken toe and defenseman Jassen Cullimore needs surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Then home fans booed Pavel Kubina.

Negativity reigned.

Until the third period.

The Lightning rallied for a 3-2 victory against red-hot Edmonton with two goals in the third period, including the winner by Ruslan Fedotenko with 3:00 left, before an announced 13,454 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"We have the character to do that," said Vinny Lecavalier, whose 12th goal of the season gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first period. "We have a different mind-set this year -- win every game. It's not to try to win or to just go out and compete. It's to win. That's why we're more successful."

Three times this season, the Lightning has come from behind to win in the third period, and 12 times it has rallied to earn points. But Thursday's comeback marked a reversal of fortune.

The Lightning, 1-4-1-1 in its previous seven, blew third-period leads in its previous two games, including a 4-3 overtime loss Tuesday at Toronto. The victory snapped a three-game home losing streak dating to Nov.19 and provided a much-needed shift on the eve of a four-game road trip to Boston, Chicago, Minnesota and Montreal.

"You stop the bleeding for a few hours," coach John Tortorella said. "We've been a very competitive hockey team, but we've given away points. To turn it around, you hope you can live off that for a little bit and gain some confidence."

Tampa Bay had lost six in a row, including one in overtime, to Edmonton, which entered with a seven-game unbeaten streak and four consecutive road victories. Kubina, who has two goals and seven assists after signing a two-year, $4.75-million contract, was penalized twice. The second led to a power-play goal by Anson Carter that gave Edmonton a 2-1 lead 11:19 into the second period.

Kubina was booed by fans whenever he handled the puck -- except when his blistering slap shot tied it at 2. The goal beat Tommy Salo low on the glove side.

"The fans are tough on me. I understand that," Kubina said. "But when they boo me, they boo the whole team. I don't think that was the real Tampa Bay fans."

[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]

Brad Richards plays the puck during the first. He earned his team-high 20th assist.

Lecavalier said he was outraged.

"It doesn't help a guy's confidence," he said. "People should put themselves in his shoes. He's one of the best defensemen in the league. Everybody makes mistakes. He scored a goal. He's a star of the game. People should cheer him."

Fedotenko's seventh goal of the season, and fourth winner, was set up by Tim Taylor's wraparound. Fedotenko's one-timer from the slot beat Salo and turned a crummy day into a triumph.

"This is a big win for us," he said.

CULLIMORE DETAILS: Cullimore is scheduled for surgery Monday to repair his torn left rotator cuff, with the expected rehabilitation period 4-6 months. The shoulder had been sore all season, but became too painful to play Nov.27 against Buffalo.

"Four months would put me right at March, so I'm hoping to get back in that time frame," said Cullimore, a 6-foot-5, 239-pound Ontario native. "Hopefully, the team will be in the middle of a playoff run and I can come back and contribute."

Cullimore, in his fourth season with the Lightning, had emerged as the team's most reliable defender, used in a variety of critical situations. General manager Jay Feaster, already shopping for a defenseman to quarterback the power play, said Cullimore's injury will not prompt him to make an immediate trade.

ONE-TIMERS: Defenseman Darren Rumble was reassigned Thursday to Springfield one day after being called up in case Kubina could not play. Kubina had an abrasion and complained of headaches after being high-sticked Tuesday by Toronto's Robert Reichel. ... Center Brian Holzinger and left wing Chris Dingman were healthy scratches.