DUCKS 2, LIGHTNING 0: It is just another home loss and just another chance to gain ground gone.
By BRANT JAMES
Published December 30, 2003
[Times photo: Dan McDuffie]
A Lightning is struck twice, as Shane Willis, center, drops his stick as he falls between Mighty Ducks Ruslan Salei and Todd Simpson in the thirds.
TAMPA - Minutes after a 4-2 victory over Boston on Saturday, the Lightning, from coach John Tortorella to Vinny Lecavalier to Martin St. Louis, were quick to assert that one victory and a rare bunching of goals did not necessarily signal the end of the team's recent problems.
There was talk of "stutter-steps." It was "just one more game," and they would "have to go out and do it again."
Astute observations, but no comfort after falling victim to the same problems jeopardizing their season.
Underachieving Anaheim used two second-period goals and a standout effort from goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere on Monday, dealing Tampa Bay its fourth home loss in its past five, 2-0 at the St. Pete Times Forum.
The Lightning effort was mostly good. The shots were sometimes there. But the frustration was ever present.
"Obviously, we're frustrated and disappointed," Tortorella said. "It's something we can't dwell on. We have to try to get better and try and string something together to where the consistency is there."
The Lightning, 4-10-3 with just 30 goals in its past 17 games, has managed two goals or fewer in eight of the past 10.
Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin again was strong but fell to 1-6-1 in his past eight decisions. He finished with 23 saves.
Left wing Fredrik Modin, one of the more active Lightning forwards, said no one assumed the problems were solved with one game.
"We always look ahead. At least, personally, that's what I'm doing," he said. "It felt good coming off a win where we did score some goals, but it's not like we're thinking, "This is nice; now we don't have to work.' That's just not how it works."
The Lightning lost a chance to cut into Atlanta's Southeast Division lead also, as the Thrashers lost on Sunday at Ottawa and Monday at Montreal.
Anaheim seemed it would be fodder for a Lightning team in search of its first victory streak in 18 games. The Mighty Ducks were struggling to find themselves with an influx of new players, including former Lightning forward Vinny Prospal. Last in the Pacific Division, Anaheim had lost three in a row, and was foundering, but played as if interested in defending its conference title.
Giguere, playoff star but mortal this season, snuffed the Lightning's most intense offensive surge midway through the third period and blocked down a shot Lecavalier fired from his knees just outside the crease. Giguere finished with 31 saves and appeared to strengthen with work.
Niclas Havelid gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 14:34 of the second period with his first goal in 24 games, capitalizing on what Tortorella dubbed "a major breakdown" in coverage.
The Ducks continued to attack for the next several minutes, setting up Petr Sykora's 12th goal of the season at 17:22. Again the play came from the back of the Lightning net, as Stanislav Chistov fetched the puck and worked it around the boards, shielding it from defenseman Nolan Pratt until he fed Sykora for a whirl-around shot in the middle.
The Lightning power play was again no help, finishing 0-for-7 to run its rut to 3-for-46 in the past 10 games and 0-for-its-last-15. It was just another part of the expanding mystery.
"As a part of this team you wonder when it will start to flow a little more consistently," defenseman Cory Sarich said. "When will we begin to get a couple every night, at least. No one has the answer. You just have to keep preaching hard work and get through it."
