Lightning/NHL

Just one more point

LIGHTNING 3, 'CANES 2 (OT): Marty St. Louis scores in the final seconds as a playoff berth gets a little closer.

By TOM JONES
Published April 16, 2006

	[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
	Marty St. Louis, right, celebrates after his breakaway goal with 10.7 seconds left in overtime.

TAMPA - The Lightning did not grab hold of a playoff spot Saturday night. But it did keep the next best thing in its hands: its fate.

Talk all you want about the slew of the big games the Lightning has played the past few weeks. This clearly was as critical as it gets.

And by beating the Carolina Hurricanes in spectacular and dramatic fashion in front of 21,033 at the St. Pete Times Forum, the Lightning doesn't need anyone's help to get an invite to the postseason. Marty St. Louis kept the Lightning in control of its own destiny by scoring a breakaway goal with a mere 10.7 seconds left in overtime to give the Lightning a 3-2 victory.

"It's tough on the stress meter," St. Louis said. "But that's why you play - for this time of year. We have made it tough on ourselves the last little bit, but we play our best when our backs are against the wall."

That's exactly where the Lightning was when Saturday's game started. Earlier in the day, ninth-place Atlanta rallied from deficits of 2-0 and then 3-2 in the third period to beat Boston and step to within one point of the Lightning (43-32-6) for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I didn't watch it, but I checked the (Atlanta) score after I got up from my nap," defenseman Dan Boyle said.

"I'd lie to you if I said I didn't keep an eye on the Atlanta game," St. Louis said. "We all were. It makes a difference."

Atlanta's victory put Saturday's game in the category of must-win. Had the Lightning lost in regulation, it would have needed help to get into the playoffs.

"There is nothing simple this year," coach John Tortorella said. "Nothing is easy and I really believe the players don't think they're getting help (from other teams). We're not going to get any help. We're going to have to do it ourselves. There's nothing the matter with doing it that way."

The Lightning now has that chance. It will make the playoffs for the third consecutive season by either beating or losing in overtime against Washington on Tuesday, or if the Thrashers lose in any fashion Monday in Washington or Tuesday at Florida. The Lightning's victory Saturday eliminated Toronto.

Just getting to overtime, and guaranteeing a point, kept the Lightning in control of its destiny again. But how the Lightning got to overtime was a mess.

"It's definitely a playoff atmosphere," St. Louis said. "You're up. You're down. Mentally, it's a ride. ... It's tough on the heart sometimes."

Backed by a strong goaltending performance from John Grahame, the Lightning took a 2-0 lead into the final 12 minutes after a first-period goal from Brad Richards and a goal early in the third from Fredrik Modin.

But the Hurricanes, who beat the Lightning in a shootout on Friday, rallied on goals by former Lightning Cory Stillman, then by Matt Cullen with 9:44 left in the third.

"We weren't too happy about it because we seemed in full control," Tortorella said. "But we didn't lose our composure.

"I think we've showed a lot of (guts) the past couple of nights. A lot of people questioning what we're going to do, where are we going, why are they like this? I think they're beginning to get back to the type of team we're used to seeing."

St. Louis' winner came after the Lightning killed off a penalty in overtime. St. Louis sneaked behind the Carolina defense and took a pass from Boyle. His 31st goal of the season put the Lightning's magic number at one.

But that one figures to be tough. Atlanta has won four in a row and is favored to win its final two games. Meantime, the Lightning plays the next-to-worst team in the East, but it has struggled against the Caps despite a 4-1-2 record. Four of the seven games have gone to overtime or a shootout.

"We had a Game 7 (of the Stanley Cup finals) a couple of years ago on home ice and that's how we're going to look at it (Tuesday)," Richards said. "Thank God it's here."

[Last modified April 16, 2006, 00:43:12]