THRASHERS 2, LIGHTNING 1: Tampa Bay's loss is quickly forgotten in the midst of playoff preparation.
By BRANT JAMES
Published April 4, 2004
[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Tampa Bay goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who lands on top of an Atlanta player, had 21 saves.
Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis, left, scored in the second period to add to his league lead in points (94) and short-handed goals (nine).
TAMPA - Even Martin St. Louis couldn't take this one too hard, too long.
Sure, there could have been better ways to end a regular season and arc into the impending Eastern Conference playoffs. But even after a 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers at the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday, the essential facts remained as cold and hard as the ice bag on his right foot. The Lightning is the top seed in the East and command home-ice advantage when its best-of-seven quarterfinal series commences on Thursday at the Times Forum against the eighth-seeded Islanders. Montreal clinched the No. 7 seed with a win Saturday, leaving New York as No. 8.
The Lightning, according to the team, will host Game 2 at 3 p.m. Saturday and then travel to Uniondale, N.Y., for games on Monday and Wednesday. Other times are not yet available.
The Islanders beat the Lightning three of four times this season, outscoring Tampa Bay 13-6. That matters as little, St. Louis said, as Tampa Bay's top seed.
"It's a whole new season," he said. "It's 0-0 and their three victories, they mean nothing right now. That's all I can say about that."
And as for St. Louis' pursuit of the NHL scoring title, which he helped with his 38th goal of the season, he has done all he can do on that front. Same for making his case for the Hart Trophy (league MVP as voted by hockey writers) and the Pearson (MVP voted on by players).
Now he'll see if his seven-point lead over Colorado's Joe Sakic holds after the Avalanche concludes its season today.
"Obviously, I'm happy (with) the way we played as a team and I'm happy with the way I played personally, too, to give myself a chance to be in this situation," he said. "When you're on the top for the last few weeks there's a lot of stress and pressure, I guess, that comes with it. But I gave myself a fair chance I guess, and obviously Sakic's got a game (today). Am I going to look at the game? I don't know, but I'll be pleased if they don't score seven goals."
Tampa Bay, which finished with a franchise-record 106 points, could have had the complete feel-good push into the playoffs it desired if not for another coming-out performance by goaltender Kari Lehtonen. In winning for the fourth time in as many NHL starts, the 20-year-old was sharp throughout, stopping a Vinny Lecavalier breakaway and stifling a furious late Lightning rush. He could hardly be held responsible for the goal he allowed.
St. Louis gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 4:42 of the second period when took a pass from Brad Richards after a turnover, faked Lehtonen down on a break and zinged in his league-leading ninth short-hander of the season.
Though Lightning coach John Tortorella was generally pleased with the effort, things were not perfect. The Lightning power play has four goals in its past 41 opportunities after going 0-for-3. Though Ilya Kovalchuk's co-league-leading 41st goal on a breakaway was unstoppable, Shawn McEachern's third-period goal for a 2-1 lead seemed to get through Nikolai Khabibulin's legs from the outside.
But who's worrying? Atlanta coach Bob Hartley is not.
"I've watched this team for a long time," he said of the Lightning. "I think they have as good a shot to win the Cup as anybody. They have great goaltending, four great lines and a good balance of toughness."
Added Kovalchuk: "They're going to be fine in the playoffs."
After clinching at least the No. 3 seed on March 8, the Lightning is just happy to prepare for games that matter. Players stayed focused enough to earn nine points in the past six games.
"I think they're happy it's over," Tortorella said. "You pound on them for the past six, seven, eight games to stay ready, stay ready, but they had to have lost a little bit of their edge. I think the past couple of games here at the end, they've played hard and now they get the good stuff."
LIGHTNING PLAYOFF TICKETS
About 4,000 seats remain for Games 1 and 2 of the East quarterfinals against the Islanders, set for Thursday and Saturday, at the St. Pete Times Forum. Tickets can be purchased by calling (813) 301-6600. Single-game tickets also can be purchased through Ticketmaster at (727) 896-BOLT and (813) 288-BOLT, and at ticketmaster.com and tampabaylightning.com.
