SUNRISE - Martin Cibak doesn't want to think about it. Coach John Tortorella doesn't want to commit to it, but general manager Jay Feaster conceded Saturday the Lightning's final cut likely would come down to Cibak or the other suitor for the fourth-line center position, 20-year-old Alexander Svitov.
"There are other things that can happen, but you can look at it that way," Feaster said, "that two center-ice men are fighting for one spot."
The Lightning, which lost its preseason finale 3-2 to the Panthers at Office Depot Center, must trim the roster by one to reach the limit of 23.
Feaster said the Lightning will begin the season with eight defensemen, 13 forwards and two goaltenders. Although he could solve the numbers problem by placing defenseman Darren Rumble on the injured-reserve list because of recurrent back spasms, Feaster said his plan was to send out a forward. Cibak, 23, who had two assists and eight penalty minutes in six preseason games, won five of six faceoffs on a line with Dave Andreychuk and Chris Dingman on Saturday. Cibak said he did not consider the Florida game a tryout.
"I think I did a good job defensively and on the checking line," he said. "(But) I think the decision has already been made. That's my guess."
Svitov had an assist and two penalty minutes in six games and won two of nine faceoffs Saturday playing with Fredrik Modin and Ben Clymer.
Feaster, who will be in Hershey, Pa., on Monday to meet with minor-league players, expects to announce the final cut by Tuesday morning, the final roster deadline.
ROAD BLUES: Cory Stillman scored twice, but the Lightning went 0-for-5 on the power play and looked sluggish as Tortorella tested new line combinations in the final tuneup before Friday's season opener against the Bruins.
Stillman seemed comfortable wherever he was shuffled. Starting the game with Vinny Lecavalier and Dmitry Afanasenkov, he broke in alone to beat goaltender Roberto Luongo at 1 minute, 15 seconds of the first period. Playing with Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis with 7:57 left in the game, he poked in a shot from just in front of the crease to cut it to 3-2.
"Either way, if you play with those four guys on those two lines, you're going to get opportunities to get on the ice and to score goals," Stillman said.
The Panthers scored three straight by Darcy Hordichuk, Ivan Novoseltsev and Marcus Nilson on the power play to lead 3-1.
Nikolai Khabibulin made 27 saves as the Lightning finished 4-3-1 in the preseason.
"Tonight we did a couple of good things," Andreychuk said. "We continued to battle, but I think a lot of these guys were looking toward next week - both sides."
PAY UP: As if the Lightning-Panthers rivalry needed stoking, Florida's two NHL teams play their six-game regular-season series for cash. The winner receives the Nextel Cup and a $5,000 check from the loser that will benefit its charitable foundations.
"I'm very anxious to take their money and give it to our favorite Panther charities," Florida coach Mike Keenan said.
The Lightning went 3-0-2-0 against the Panthers last season, and Feaster said his team - at any level - has no intention of losing.
"The one thing I do know, our owner, Bill Davidson, and our team president, Ron Campbell, they hate to write checks," he said, joking.
BACK ON ICE: Defenseman Dan Boyle played for the first time since sustaining a bruise under his collarbone Sept.25. He logged 24:29 of ice time over 28 shifts.
