ABC's wishes might affect playoff start

If the Lightning wins the Southeast and hosts Games 1 and 2 of the first round of the playoffs, the games likely will be April 10 and 12 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

That is because it appears ABC wants to televise the April 12 game regionally.

Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett said that through 5 p.m. Tuesday, the team had sold 12,200 tickets for Game 1 and 11,300 for Game 2 in the 19,758-seat arena.

NO ACTION AGAINST LAPOINTE: The NHL did not take disciplinary action against Boston's Martin Lapointe for Monday's hit on Tampa Bay left wing Vinny Prospal.

Lapointe was called for clipping with 2:37 left in the third period of the 2-2 tie.

The penalty is called for a check thrown toward a player's knees.

"They looked at it as they look at all incidents and did not deem it worthy of supplementary discipline in the form of a suspension or a fine," NHL spokesman Gary Meagher said.