Lightning: Lightning try to get game on Sunshine

With Sunshine Network, which holds the team's television rights, and Time Warner cable apparently close to a deal that would get Sunshine back on Time Warner's menu, why not ask for Thursday's game against the Panthers to be shown as a sign of good faith.

It did not happen.

"It has been a difficult negotiation," said Campbell, who was clearly miffed. "But I was hoping there was a sense of closure both sides had reached, and it was time to move on."

It was unclear where the snag occurred.

It still is believed the sides are close to ending their squabble over how much Time Warner will pay Sunshine for its programming. Campbell said an oral agreement fell through about two weeks ago.

"We're optimistic," Time Warner spokeswoman Linda Chambers said. "Both sides are talking as we speak. We're trying to get all the details on paper."

Said Cathy Weeden, Sunshine's vice president and general manager: "We are hopeful that sooner, rather than later, we will have something positive to announce."

It can't happen soon enough for Campbell.

"We've been hurt by tens of thousands of tickets," he said. "That is our three-hour infomercial."

Campbell said he talks to both sides daily.

"I try to get some common sense in there because those guys are truly fighting over the cost of a cup of coffee, a cheap cup of coffee, nickels and dimes," he said. "You have to be smarter than this."

TRADE TALK: General manager Jay Feaster said he is pushing to acquire a defenseman before the March 11 deadline.

"We're pitching on a lot of different fronts," he said.

Still, he said, there is so much uncertainty in the market, talk might not heat up around the league until the deadline approaches.

Feaster will not name names, but the list seems to include Los Angeles' Aaron Miller, Buffalo's Alexei Zhitnik, Carolina's Glen Wesley and, if circumstances are right, Chicago's Phil Housley.

Housley has assisted on more of Dave Andreychuk's 256 power-play goals (33) than anyone except Dale Hawerchuk. But he is out with a broken foot, and the timetable for his return is unclear.

It is believed Feaster contacted Panthers GM Rick Dudley, the former Lightning GM. It is believed Florida might be willing to part with defensemen Brad Ference or Igor Ulanov.

PLAYOFF TICKETS: Packages of tickets for the first two rounds go on sale March 10. They are available only by calling the St. Pete Times Forum box office at (813) 301-6600. Packages include tickets for eight home games, the maximum the team could play.

First-round tickets are 10 percent more than the regular season, and it is 20 percent more for the second round. "Maybe we wouldn't say this is a reward to our fans," spokesman Bill Wickett said. "But we're happy to be able to price playoff tickets at a level that should allow any of our fans to come out here as much as they want."

SCRATCHES: Left wing Ruslan Fedotenko (broken finger) and defenseman Darren Rumble.