Lightning back in elite 8

LIGHTNING 3, CAPITALS 1: Tampa Bay again is among the East's playoff contenders.

[Times photo: Dirk Shadd] Vincent Lecavalier, left, celebrates with Brad Lukowich, center, and fellow teammates as the Lightning scores its third goal during third period action against the Washington Capitals.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 18, 2003

TAMPA -- Dan Boyle loves playing off a crowd. The louder it is, the more pumped he gets.

So when discussing Monday night's 3-1 victory over the Capitals, the Lightning defenseman gave high marks to the announced 13,954 at the St. Pete Times Forum, which added a playoff atmosphere to one of Tampa Bay's most important games of the season.

"I get fired up with the crowd," Boyle said. "I get a pretty good rush over that."

And Boyle responded, scoring on a five-on-three power play 2:03 into the third period to tie it at 1 and assisting on Fredrik Modin's goal that gave the Lightning the lead 1:44 later.

It was the second straight game the Lightning has scored three third-period goals. And its second straight victory was the second straight big game for Boyle, who had two goals in Saturday's win over the Bruins.

But Boyle, with 11 goals and 45 points, was not interested in personal accolades as much as he was the big picture.

"Absolutely," he said when asked if the team is thinking about the playoffs. "That's the No. 1 thing we're playing for."

And all of a sudden, the Lightning is back in the thick of it.

The victory gave Tampa Bay 62 points and moved it into the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Depending on how the Islanders fared against the Mighty Ducks (late game), the Lightning could be as high as seventh.

Tampa Bay moved within four points of the first-place Capitals in the Southeast with two games in hand.

"It's two points against our division leader and that pretty much says it all," said Modin, whose 15th goal beat goalie Olaf Kolzig cleanly to the stick side.

"Hopefully, it's the start of something good."

The game was not without its worries.

Defenseman Pavel Kubina left early in the third with a sore neck and a headache after being checked from behind by Peter Bondra. The boarding penalty gave Tampa Bay the crucial five on three.

Then there were Capitals players such as Bondra, Jaromir Jagr, Robert Lang and Michael Nylander. Silencing them was the difference between victory and the 5-1 loss to Washington on Feb. 4.

Tampa Bay hit from the start, forced the play to the outside and played solidly off the puck. Boyle said the plan was to get under Jagr's skin and throw him off his game. Jagr, who had a hat trick the last time the teams played, was hounded. Though he had a team-high five shots, none were dangerous.

Lang scored his 17th goal with 1:38 left in the second to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead, but it was his only shot. Nylander and Bondra also were held to one shot each.

The Lightning outshot Washington 30-15, the fewest shots Tampa Bay has allowed this season. Nikolai Khabibulin, in his second consecutive victory after going 0-6-3 in his past nine starts, stopped 14, including one on Mike Grier's second-period breakaway to preserve a scoreless tie.

"I thought we played really well against Boston, but I think tonight we played even better," coach John Tortorella said. "Through the whole game I thought our desperation level was about as high as it's been all year long. So that's a good sign."

It peaked in the third. Vinny Prospal scored with 1:25 left to clinch the victory and give the Lightning its fourth win this season when trailing after two periods. It had four in the past five seasons.

"They went out and outworked us and got the job done," Capitals coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We didn't. They win and we lose."

"A very big game for us," Khabibulin said. "At the same time, we need to win some more games."

The Lightning has had problems capitalizing on big wins with similar efforts, so Wednesday's game against the Thrashers is crucial if the team wants to build on its two-game winning streak.

And keep hearing the roar of the crowd.