SABRES 4, LIGHTNING 3 (OT): Goaltending is a problem again as Tampa Bay manages a point.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 21, 2004
BUFFALO, N.Y. - For someone who just watched his team rally from two goals down with less than two minutes remaining in the third period to salvage a road point, John Tortorella was in no mood to celebrate.
In fact, after the Lightning's 4-3 overtime loss to the Sabres Friday night at HSBC Arena, the coach decided to put his goaltenders on notice.
"It is unacceptable what's going on," Tortorella said. "I'm tired of it."
On consecutive nights, soft goals cost Tampa Bay a point.
On Thursday, two allowed by Nikolai Khabibulin helped the Blues overcome a one-goal, third-period deficit and earn a 4-3 overtime victory. John Grahame admitted he probably should have had Buffalo's last three goals, including Daniel Briere's winner with 1:59 left in overtime, even though it came on a two-on-none breakaway.
"I was there," Grahame said. "The guy kind of shot it back through my arm. That's a save I've got to make. A very average effort for myself."
"We need some saves, let's face it," Tortorella said. "We don't close the game out the other night, and we don't get the saves tonight.
"It's frustrating and I'm very concerned about both our guys. Plain and simple, you need some saves within a hockey game, and the way we've been on a run here, there are games we're not going to be on top of things, so we need some help there."
Help for the Lightning came in a frantic third period in which it got three goals; two on the power play by Dave Andreychuk and the last by Cory Stillman with 54.1 seconds left to earn the point for a regulation tie.
Andreychuk's tallies, his first on the power play since Jan. 15, gave him 265 with the man advantage and pushed him two ahead of Detroit's Brett Hull, who on Wednesday tied him for the NHL record.
Andreychuk, who had eight shots on goal, scored 4:01 into the period and with 1:43 remaining, and then assisted on Stillman's goal. Andreychuk's bid for the winner was spoiled when Sabres goalie Martin Biron gloved his overtime breakaway.
It was an important game for the Lightning captain, who, at 40 and with a lockout threatening to wipe out next season, may have played his final game in the city in which he began his career and still has a home.
"I wanted to put on a good show," said Andreychuk, who has 13 goals and 626 in his career. "We're very happy with that point. We kept battling back and showed some character."
It was a notable turnaround for Tampa Bay, which had 20 third-period shots after it had 11 in the first two periods and fell behind 2-0.
The second goal was the start of Grahame's troubles as Brian Campbell's first goal of the season skidded under the goalie's legs with 4:17 left in the second.
Miroslav Satan scored his second goal of the game with 4:16 left in the third period when his shot from the slot hit Grahame in the shoulder and fluttered into the net for a 3-1 lead.
Grahame said he saw both goals a "half-second" late.
"No excuses," he said. "Those are the ones I have to have. It's the timely saves that you make, and those weren't very timely."
Andreychuk's second goal came during a six-on-four power play with Grahame pulled for an extra skater and made the score 3-2. Grahame also was pulled when Stillman scored.
But Briere's 21st goal increased Buffalo's streak to 5-0-1, and with 63 points moved it three behind the Canadiens for the East's final playoff spot.
"After they tied it, we just decided to let it all hang out," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "It didn't matter if we lost, we were going to try for the two points."
As for the Lightning, "It was a very good point," said Brad Richards, who had two assists. "Considering the position we were in, it was an unbelievable point."
Considering the goaltending, Tortorella said, it was just as frustrating.
