Lightning: Lightning laments points it lost late

The game against the Panthers was the 14th in which Tampa Bay lost at least one point after holding a lead or a tie with 10 minutes left in the third period. In seasons past, that would have hardly raised an eyebrow. But with Tampa Bay in a playoff race, every point counts, especially the ones lost.

The Lightning led five of the 14 games with 10 minutes left and was tied in nine. That means of the 19 points available (two for each game it led and one for each tie), Tampa Bay gained six with one tie and five overtime losses.

It is worse if you consider that Jan. 25 against the Predators, it was 2-2 with 10 minutes left, but Nashville tied it 59 seconds prior and went on to win 3-2.

So make it six points gained out of 20. And 14 points lost.

"Obviously, we'd like to have those points," left wing Andre Roy said. "They're ones we need. If we had half of them, we'd be in good shape. Hopefully, we're not two or three points out (of the playoffs) at the end because we'll be cursing ourselves."

Where would the Lightning be if it had seven more points?

Try first place in the Southeast with 64 points, two ahead of the Capitals. And it would be seven ahead of the Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

"We definitely have to find a way to hold leads in the third period," Khabibulin said. "Whether it's a good play at the right time or a good save or a big penalty kill, I don't care what it is. We cannot let points slip away like that.

"If you go into the third period with a lead, you should never lose a game. If you're up by two, there should be no chance. It's a concern because we've done it over and over. Why we do it is tough to say."

It wasn't tough against Florida.

While the team appeared to play well positionally in the defensive zone during the third period, its forecheck vanished and, consequently, it generated little offense.

Olli Jokinen scored with 8:14 left to make it 4-3 after Lightning left wing Fredrik Modin lost a battle for the puck along the boards, then left Jokinen alone in front of the net.

Jay Bouwmeester's power-play goal with 11.8 seconds left tied it after he was left alone in the slot by Ruslan Fedotenko.

And good shots or not, defensive breakdowns or not, Khabibulin, winless in eight starts (0-6-2), did not make the saves.

"It is frustrating," Tortorella said of the collapses. "But at this time of year, we have to continue to learn by it. And we can't dwell either."

The situation must be even more maddening because of the Lightning's success, especially early, at gaining points when trailing after two periods. Tampa Bay's 13 points in such situations are tied for second in the East.

"We just have to keep playing our game for 60 minutes," defenseman Nolan Pratt said. "If you let up against anybody, they're going to sting you. You can't sit there and think, 'Geez, look at all the points we lost.' You start wondering about that, and it's a snowball kind of thing. Just be prepared and don't make the same mistakes."

"It's frustrating when you don't get it accomplished, but how rewarding is it when you do," Tortorella said. "And how rewarding will it be when you get to your ultimate goal."

Two words.

"The playoffs," Tortorella said. "That's what we're talking about here."