THE SKINNY: Coming off a five-day layoff, the Lightning's victory wasn't pretty but still was worth the two points. Fredrik Modin and Brad Richards scored first-period goals, and Cory Stillman scored in the third as Tampa Bay improved to 7-1-1-1 at home.
HE SAID IT: "Our situational hockey stinks at the end of the game said. But it's two points. You never look away from two points in this league." - Lightning coach John Tortorella
Dec. 9: Islanders 5, Lightning 2
THE SKINNY: The line of Shawn Bates, Trent Hunter and Michael Peca combined for eight points to help New York overcome a 2-0 deficit. Hunter's goal made it 2-1 with 4:26 left in the second and Bates tied it with 1:40 left. Bates and Hunter assisted on Radek Martinek's winner 3:19 into the third.
HE SAID IT: "We're up 2-0 and maybe there's a little loss of focus there late. We've just got to be ready." - Lightning defenseman Nolan Pratt
March 16, Islanders 3, Lightning 1
THE SKINNY: Down 1-0, the Islanders scored three in the third. Mattias Weinhandl tied it 1:30 in, and Justin Papineau scored the winner with 6:54 left. Blake's empty-netter with 45.7 seconds left sealed it. In conjunction with a 5-1 loss to Carolina on March 13, it was the first time the Lightning lost consecutive games in regulation since Dec. 13 and 16.
HE SAID IT: "We need to get on the right track. It just might be a little blip right now, but we have to change it around." - Lightning defenseman Jassen Cullimore
March 21, Islanders 3, Lightning 0
THE SKINNY: Rick DiPietro made 29 saves for his fourth career shutout. One day after Nikolai Khabibulin was shaky in a 5-4 loss to Boston, John Grahame allowed two questionable goals. Mark Parrish scored from the faceoff circle for a 1-0 lead with 1:56 left in the first. Michael Peca beat Grahame with 8:19 left in the third. Former Lightning defenseman Adrian Aucoin sealed it 2:46 later.
HE SAID IT: "We want Tampa." - an Islanders fan with 45 seconds left in the game
