Slapshots

Dingman shines

If Chris Dingman feels any pressure, he's not showing it. The Lightning left wing has been one of the team's most consistent and energetic players throughout the playoffs.

He might have been Tampa Bay's best player in Game 2. Dingman had a game-high six shots, battled hard and scored his first playoff goal 12:25 into the game to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

"I feel good," said Dingman, who had four assists in 22 previous postseason games. "I like the pressure of the playoffs. It's fun. I have no problem being out there."

Especially against the Devils. Of Dingman's five playoff points, three are against New Jersey. He had two assists for the Avalanche against the Devils in the 2001 Stanley Cup final.

Dingman said it was a coincidence.

"Just getting the bounces a little bit better," he said. "Against the Devils, you know they're going to be physical. Roll off the defense and get the puck to the net."

Ken Daneyko got on his soap box between the second and third periods. The Devils defenseman apparently told his teammates that the goal by Martin St. Louis, which gave the Lightning a 2-1 lead with 21.7 seconds left in the second, would not beat them.

"The leadership in this room is great," goalie Martin Brodeur said. "Guys who have been there in big games. They have all that baggage they bring to the table."

The Lightning had four consecutive power plays in the second period but could not add to its 1-0 lead.

As coach John Tortorella so eloquently put it when asked if it was a positive Tampa Bay was creating those chances, "I don't think it's a positive because we didn't do (expletive) with it."

The Lightning, now 0-for-5 in the series, could not even consistently set up, which disturbed St. Louis.

"There comes a time when you have to turn your back and take a hit and engage a little bit, and things will slow down," he said. "We couldn't do it."

"It's something we have to get better at," captain Dave Andreychuk said.

A story in the French-language newspaper Photo Police said Brodeur has separated from his wife and alleges he had an affair.

"It is what it is," Brodeur said. "We're separated, and leave it at that. It was bound to come out one way or the other. Now it did, so let's deal with it. This is my personal life, and I don't want to get bothered with it from now on."

New Jersey coach Pat Burns didn't appear to be playing possum, nor did he sound like he was trying to kick-start his team. He seemed sincere when he said his Devils have plenty of room for improvement. On the other hand, he said he believed the Lightning played much better in Game 2 than Game 1. If you're a Lightning fan and Burns is right, one thought might come to mind: Uh-oh.

"The thing is, (the Lightning) played better," Burns said. "We didn't play that well. We played well enough to get by and win. I don't know if you saw the same game I saw, but we didn't play that well."

Andre Roy played for the first time since Game 2 against the Capitals. He played 13:45 with three shots and no penalties. ... Lightning defenseman Stan Neckar sat out with what the team called a "lower body injury" and was replaced by Nolan Pratt. Neckar has been bothered throughout the season by a strained groin. ... Alexander Svitov was scratched.