LIGHTNING 1, BRUINS 1: A goal 16 seconds into the third improves Tampa Bay to 3-3-1 in its past seven road games.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published December 24, 2003
BOSTON - It was just for a moment during Tuesday's game against the Bruins, but all of a sudden, Andre Roy was back at practice listening to Lightning coach John Tortorella implore his players to shoot the puck.
So Roy shot while standing on the goal line to the left of Boston goalie Andrew Raycroft, and darn it if it didn't go in.
"We've got to shoot from everywhere," the left wing said. "A lot of our practices in Tampa were like that. If we don't shoot, we don't score."
Roy's first goal of the season 16 seconds into the third period gave Tampa Bay a 1-1 tie at the FleetCenter and earned it an important point as it prepares for Friday's crucial game against the Southeast-leading Thrashers.
Tampa Bay must give equal thanks to goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who again was superb with 21 saves. And the way Tampa Bay battled in the third period after being outplayed and falling behind in the second is something on which to build.
But when a team has struggled so mightily on offense (25 goals in its past 15 games), a goal and a third-period comeback is nothing at which to turn up one's nose.
"We've got to look at the positive," Khabibulin said. "We didn't get two points, but we played pretty well as a team. We fought hard to get a point, and right now, I don't think that's all that bad."
Still, Tampa Bay is 3-9-3 in its past 15 games and winless in 20 in a row in Boston (0-13-6-1), though it is 0-0-3-1 in its past four.
Their were little moments of drama led by the back-and-forth after the game between Tortorella and Vinny Lecavalier. The center was benched for the final 15:42 of the second period after his backhand pass in the offensive zone was intercepted and began a sequence that led to Rob Zamuner's goal, which gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Lecavalier returned in the third period and assisted on Roy's goal.
Defenseman Brad Lukowich was lost in the second period with bruised ribs, though X-rays were negative and he said he would be ready for Friday. And left wing Chris Dingman might miss the Thrashers game because of a one-game suspension that comes with a third game misconduct.
It happened 6:06 into the second period when Dingman grabbed Bruins enforcer Sandy McCarthy, who had a hold of Lightning defenseman Nolan Pratt. Dingman did little more than prevent the confrontation from escalating, but he was tossed for being the third man in. The NHL rule book says the Lightning has 48 hours to appeal.
The trick for the Lightning is to bring the same energy and focus to home games it shows on the road. Tampa Bay is 3-3-1 in its past seven road games, 0-4-1 in its past five at home. "Maybe it's just a coincidence," Khabibulin said. "I don't know how to explain it. That's the way we should play at home."
"Maybe we're a little bit more desperate," center Brad Richards said. "Maybe we go out and play a simpler game."
Like Roy did when he scored. He didn't look to make a fancy pass or carry the puck closer to the goal. He saw a lane and shot.
"I know they don't care if I get a goal," said Roy, who last season had a career-high 10. "They just want me to go out there and play hard and finish my checks. But for me, to finally get one is huge. It always feels good to get a goal here and there and contribute."
Roy's goal seemed to spark Tampa Bay, which was outshot 11-5 in the second period but had a 15-7 advantage in the third and led 32-22 in the game.
"The biggest point is we went out and tried to win the game in the third period, and that's the positive that came out of this," Tortorella said. "After they scored their first goal, I thought we sagged a bit, but I thought we played an excellent third period because of the mind-set of going out and trying to win."
